Cape Breton University (CBU) has been a pillar of Cape Breton Island’s economy for decades. CBU’s success in growing it’s international student body is exemplary. One can only imagine what might be possible if new facilities were to replace crumbling infrastructure.
We believe community and governmental support for CBU’s Centre for Discovery and Innovation project is critically important to our island’s prosperity. Canada is one of the top three destination markets in the world for international students and, as CBU taps into this market, it realizes the best opportunity for growth Cape Breton has had in the last 75 years.
Immigration provides island-wide benefits. The recent wave of international students has reversed decades of decline, filled a gap in our workforce and has grown Cape Breton’s commercial base with immigrants who have started several new local businesses.
Investments in infrastructure at CBU and the resultant increase in the university’s international student capacity brings to Cape Breton “sticky money” which will stay and circulate in the local economy. Tuition and business revenue that is generated from international students is directly injected into our economy, circulates locally and is not quickly transferred out of our community via off-island consultants, large equipment contracts or absentee owners and shareholders.
Investment in CBU’s Centre for Discovery will also allow for greater collaboration with the community, allowing the expert faculty at CBU to increase participation in collaborative opportunities with local companies.
The benefits to our community that CBU’s international student population provides are many, especially from an economic perspective. We at Navigate Startup House would like to see this continue and grow. We hope that the community, our elected representatives and every level of government will support CBU’s Centre for Discovery and Innovation initiative.
Todd Graham
Sydney
(Manager, Navigate Startup House)
