Syrian refugees recommended work in fishing and farming

A legislative committee is recommending government and newcomers' organizations encourage refugees to pursue careers in agriculture and fisheries.

Robert Henderson, chair of the standing committee on agriculture and fisheries, said encouraging newcomers to work in primary industries could help them find employment, while reducing the province's reliance on temporary foreign workers.

• Refugee job search learning curve will be steep on P.E.I.

An estimated 1,000 temporary foreign workers are brought in every year.

"That tells me there's at least 1,000 jobs there for people," said Henderson.

"I think a lot of those people may consider this is at least a short-term career option: get to Prince Edward Island, there's a job in the agriculture and fisheries sectors, and then move on upward like every other Islander does as they advance their careers."

P.E.I. is expecting to take in 250 Syrian refugees over the next three months.

There have been some concerns those refugees will have a hard time finding work. The unemployment rate for October was 9.9 per cent.