TERRACE, B.C. – Terrace City Council voted last night to formally support a regional call to action urging the federal government to reconsider immigration caps that local leaders say could be “catastrophic” for the Northwest’s economy.
During their bi-weekly meeting on Tuesday, council discussed the “Voices of Northern BC – Call to Action” document. The initiative aims to protect local businesses from severe labour shortages by highlighting the critical role that workers on temporary visas and international students play in the regional workforce.
The city’s Lands and Economic Development Manager presented the recommendation, sparking a robust debate among council members.
Several councillors and the mayor voiced strong support, arguing that federal policies designed to address issues in major cities like Toronto or Vancouver are being applied with little consideration for the unique needs of Northern B.C.
“The initial Federal Policy… came out of the blue in terms of the impact it would have,” said one councillor. “Certainly as usual the Northwestern part of our Province was not considered in this.”
Another councillor highlighted the benefits international students bring to local post-secondary institutions, enabling a wider range of courses to be offered, which ultimately benefits all residents.
The mayor emphasized the region’s economic importance, citing major projects like LNG Canada and the Port of Prince Rupert. “They have to understand that the situation could be catastrophic in our area if immigration isn’t allowed to help with working,” he stated, adding that a “northern flavour” is desperately needed in federal policy-making.
However, the support was not unanimous. One councillor voted against the motion, expressing concern that the call to action was too narrowly focused on the labour market without fully considering the “knock on effects.” He raised concerns about the availability of housing and healthcare for new workers, and the potential for wage stagnation if local labour issues are solved primarily through immigration.
Despite these concerns, the motion to support the call to action passed by a majority vote, committing the City of Terrace to advocating alongside other northern communities for a more nuanced federal immigration policy.
