P.E.I.’s immigration cuts affecting sales and staffing levels at some Island businesses [Video]

At House of Spice, an Indian restaurant in Summerside, sales are down $20,000 to $30,000 per month since last year, said owner Harneet Brar. 

She said that’s largely because the P.E.I. government decided in early 2024 to drastically reduce the number of foreign workers it nominates for permanent residency.

“Last year in February and March, we were busy. Very busy. We had lots of Indian customers and other foreign nationals too, along with the local community,” Brar said. 

“There wasn’t any staffing issue. We’d have lots of applications. But since the rules changed, a lot of people moved out of the province.” 

In February 2024, the provincial government announced plans to slash the number of foreign workers it would nominate for permanent residency, or PR, …