Summerside restaurateur urges PNP businesses to contribute more to city's downtown

A restaurateur in downtown Summerside says he's not happy that some other businesses in the city operating under the Provincial Nominee Program are only open a few hours a day.

Dai Cao immigrated to P.E.I. with his family through the program, also known as PNP, in 2020.

He runs the Vietnamese restaurant G & T Book Cafe in Summerside's downtown.

"We choose this program because we wanted to … contribute to [developing] the City of Summerside," Cao said. 

"We have many regular customers who love our food."

Under the current conditions of the entrepreneur stream of the PNP, prospective immigrants have to start a business on P.E.I., invest at least $150,000 into it, and actively run it for at least one year before qualifying for permanent residency. 

In his first state-of-the-city address Wednesday, Summerside Mayor Dan Kutcher spoke about the issue of some businesses launched through the PNP that don't contribute to the city's downtown. 

"We … need to find out how we can reduce those PNP businesses that are in our downtown that are only open 11 to 3, that have little incentive to succeed commercially," Kutcher said in the address.

"This charade is casting a long shadow on our downtown and over many newcomers and newcomer business owners who are actually hustling and grinding to make it, who we really want to support and succeed."

Cao said he agrees with Kutcher's assessment and has noticed the same thing. 

"Even some business, they just open, turn on the light, lock the door, disappear," he said. "I don't like it. I don't like that style."

CBC News also spoke to the owner of a small retail shop in Summerside that is open for just a few hours most days.

The man wouldn't agree to be named or interviewed, but said he is simply trying to meet the PNP requirements so he can get permanent residency. 

If that happens, he said he's not confident he'll keep the business open, or stay on P.E.I. 

Province says it responds to complaints

In a statement from the provincial Department of Workforce, Advanced Learning and Population, a spokesperson said that businesses opened under the PNP receive periodic checks from the provincial government to make sure they are complying with the program's terms. 

"If there are concerns from members of the public, they can reach out to immigration staff who will do the necessary follow-ups," the spokesperson said. 

The department also said that since 2018, 303 businesses have been started on P.E.I. through the program.

Cao said government officers could do more regular checks on PNP businesses with limited hours to ensure they're putting in the effort and getting the support they need to succeed. 

More thriving businesses in downtown Summerside would help all business owners in the area, Cao added.