St. John's organizations demand strong leadership in election

As the federal election campaign starts, organizations in St. John's are calling for strong leadership and community support from candidates. AnnMarie Boudreau, CEO of the St. John's Board of Trade, emphasized the need for decisive actions to help businesses that have struggled recently due to rising costs and labor shortages. Boudreau highlighted the importance of access to labor, noting that immigration numbers for Newfoundland and Labrador were recently cut. Although some of those numbers were restored, businesses still face challenges in attracting and keeping workers. Eddy St. Coeur, co-chair of St. John's Pride, expressed concerns for human rights, particularly for the 2SLGBTQ+ community. He pointed out that while economic issues are the main focus of the election discussions, other important issues shouldn't be overlooked. St. Coeur is worried about recent changes in the Liberal cabinet, including the removal of the minister for women and gender equality. He noted an increase in the number of 2SLGBTQ+ individuals from the U.S. seeking refuge in Canada and stressed the need for candidates to support and create safe communities for all.