THUNDER BAY -- Where there are challenges, Michael Chan says he sees opportunity.
The provincial Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and International Trade is in Thunder Bay over the next two days meeting with various businesses and economic development organizations to get more international trade and investment into the region. Location was identified as a key challenge for businesses as they feel a certain sense of isolation from the rest of the province.
Chan said it's part of his mandate to go local, having already been around the Greater Toronto Area and Kitchener-Waterloo with a stop in Niagara after Thunder Bay.
"They're actually telling me those challenges," Chan said after a meeting with the Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission.
Forestry and mining were also top of mind for Chan.
"No matter what we need to understand it. We need to help as much as we can and we need to engage these two sectors and really offer as much as possible," he said.
That includes recognizing the boom and bust cycle of those industries, particularly mining.
"One day it will be up but when it's down there is always opportunity," he said.
The province also has to pay attention to what its competitors, other countries, are doing. In a global economy jurisdictions need to learn to live together while competing he said.
"What are they doing there? What are we doing here?" Chan said.
Chan also heard that Thunder Bay has challenges retaining international students once they've graduated. He wants to see more flexibility from the federal government for the province on immigration issues.
"I hope the new (federal government) understands the local demographic situation," he said.
