Prince Edward IslandsThose immigrating to Canada may want to consider PEI at a primary destination for quality of life. Its pastoral scenes of rural Canada along with its access to the ocean and close proximity to the New England region of the US make it particularly attractive.
Prince Edward Island, often referred to as PEI is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name. One of the Maritimes, the Atlantic Province is the nation's smallest province in land area and population.
Prince Edward Island has 135,851 residents collectively referred to as Islanders. It is 104th largest island in the world, and Canada's 23rd largest island. It is important to note that a modern bridge connecting PEI to maritime Canada has opened this province up to the rest of the world.
The smaller rural communities as well as the towns and villages throughout the province proudly retain a slower-paced, old world flavour, something that factors heavily into Prince Edward Island's popularity as a destination for relaxation. Most rural communities on Prince Edward Island are based on small-scale agriculture, given that the size of farm properties is quite small when compared with other areas in Canada. There is an increasing amount of industrial farming as older farm properties are consolidated and modernized.
The coastline of the island consists of a combination of long beaches, dunes, red sandstone cliffs, salt water marshes and numerous bays and harbours. Winters are rambunctious but, on the whole, milder than in most parts of Canada. Spring is late and cool. Summer is modest and breezy. As for fall, well, Islanders will tell you they favour this season most of all, except when it involves the occasional brush with a dying Atlantic hurricane.
The foremost labour market issue facing Prince Edward Island is skill shortages or gaps. The pace of economic growth coupled with demographic and other trends are exerting pressure on the provincial labour market. The provincial economy is dominated by the seasonal industries of agriculture, tourism, and the fishery. The province is limited in terms of heavy industry and manufacturing. Although commercial deposits of minerals have not been found, exploration for natural gas beneath the eastern end of the province has resulted in the discovery of an as yet undisclosed quantity of gas.
Agriculture remains the dominant industry in the provincial economy, as it has since colonial times. During the twentieth century, potatoes have replaced mixed farming as the leading cash crop, accounting for one-third of provincial farm income. The province currently accounts for a third of Canada's total potato production, producing approximately 1300 million kg annually. Many of the province's coastal communities rely upon shellfish harvesting, particularly lobster fishing as well as oyster fishing and mussel farming.
