Statement on the Atlantic Economic Panel’s Blueprint for Atlantic Canada’s Economic Future – Greater Prosperity: Bolder Ambitions For All

First, let me applaud the broader vision outlined in this report. Economic renewal in regions like ours requires coordination. No single institution, sector, or level of government can address these challenges alone. Whether we’re talking about workforce development, innovation, research commercialization, artificial intelligence, or talent retention, success will depend on strong partnerships. Cape Breton University is committed to being a reliable and active partner in that work.

That said, if I were to identify the single most important issue from my perspective, both as a university president and as a former minister, it would be population growth.

The reality is that many parts of Atlantic Canada, face a profound demographic challenge. We have an aging population, more deaths than births, and nearly twice as many seniors as children. Those are not just demographic statistics. They have direct implications for our workforce, our economy, and our ability to sustain public services and community life.

Population growth is the foundation upon which economic growth depends. We need people to fill jobs, start businesses, purchase homes, support community organizations, and contribute the tax revenue that helps fund healthcare, infrastructure, and other public services. Without population growth, every other economic strategy becomes more difficult to achieve.

That is why international students are so important. They bring skills, talent, and ambition, and many choose to stay after graduation. They become healthcare professionals, educators, entrepreneurs, engineers, and technology leaders who strengthen our communities and help meet critical workforce needs. When they choose to build their lives here after graduation, our communities become stronger, our workforce grows, and our economy benefits.

I strongly support the report’s emphasis on aligning education with regional priorities, expanding AI-related skills, strengthening research commercialization, and creating a study-work-stay model. But none of those objectives will reach their full potential unless we continue to attract and retain talented people.

Cape Breton Island has first-hand experience with this. The positive population growth that occurred post-pandemic disappeared overnight when Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) implemented a series of significant changes to the International Student Program beginning in 2024. The ripple effects were felt throughout the community. Transit Cape Breton saw a significant drop in ridership. There were fewer working-age individuals available to meet labour force demand across every sector. The direct and indirect spending of international students and their families in the community has steeply declined. All this at a time when the province has an ambitious goal to double its population.

The Auditor General of Canada’s performance audit of IRCC concluded these impacts were not only foreseeable, but preventable. The AGC’s report criticized IRCC because it “did not effectively monitor and adjust to the unintended impacts of study permit reductions” and “smaller provinces were disproportionately impacted by lower study permit approvals” as a result. Indeed, while the policy changes implemented were meant to achieve a reduction of 10% in new study permit approvals in 2024, Nova Scotia experienced a dramatic 66% drop. Similar unintended reductions were seen throughout the Atlantic Provinces and in other areas of the country. The significance of this impact for our community and region cannot be overstated.

Ultimately, if we want to grow the economy, we first need to grow the population. That means having federal policies that make Canada an attractive destination for international students and ensuring the regions of our great country have the capacity to welcome the talented people we need. Our future prosperity depends not only on educating talent, but on attracting it, retaining it, and giving people a reason to build their lives here.

– David C. Dingwall, Cape Breton University President and Vice Chancellor