A slowdown in Alberta's oil industry is translating into tough times for the Atlantic provinces, as thousands of East Coasters who've worked in the once-booming sector find themselves out of a job.
Thousands of workers from the East Coast moved west in recent years to grab the high-paying jobs in the energy sector, in what became the biggest demographic shift in Canada since the Second World War. But now, with oil prices low, oilsands projects on hold and the global economy in turmoil, those jobs are disappearing.
It's affecting more than just Alberta's bottom line, New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham told Canada AM Wednesday from Edmonton.
"We can't underestimate the impact the downturn in the Alberta economy is having on our economy in New Brunswick," he said. "We're predicting zero per cent growth this year; that's right on the verge of a recession."
Graham said for years, many New Brunswickers kept their homes -- and sometimes their families -- back home while they worked out west.
"There have been many skilled trades people who have worked in Alberta in the oilpatch but still remained in New Brunswick, who would work on a three-week rotation and then come back to New Brunswick. They'd file their taxes in New Brunswick, which we were then able to invest in our health care and education systems," he explained.
But with those paycheques disappearing, the economies of New Brunswick and other Atlantic provinces are feeling the pinch.
Graham, along with Prince Edward Island Premier Robert Ghiz and senior ministers from Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, are now in Calgary on a trade mission, hoping to secure business for companies and projects back home.
The premiers insist that what they are not trying to do is lure all those Atlantic workers back home.
"We're not here on a repatriation mission in Alberta," Graham said. "What we're here to do today is to look at ways that we can put in place businesses to businesses to add to the supply chain. We recognize that there is going to be a recovery in the oilpatch."
Prince Edward Island Premier Robert Ghiz echoed that sentiment he spoke to a Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Monday.
"I personally believe, and I think we'll see, that Alberta will be one of the first economies to start to recover when the world economy makes its turnaround - most likely sometime over the next year or two," said Ghiz.
In the meantime, Graham says his government is working on creating jobs for those New Brunswickers who do decide to come home.
"We're focusing on a major stimulus package that we announced before Christmas, a $1.2-billion investment that will employ those trades people who were working out West when they come back to New Brunswick."
