Without a huge increase in the construction industry labour force, there is no hope of building the number of homes that would be required to keep pace with Prince Edward Island’s population growth, says the Construction Association of P.E.I.
The latest population figures from Statistics Canada show the province gained 7,755 people from April to April, a growth rate of 4.6 per cent. Given an average household size of 2.3 people, that equals a requirement for more than 3,300 new apartment or condo units and single-family houses.
And that is not feasible, said Sam Sanderson, general manager of the Construction Association of P.E.I.