May 3 2012 - The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program
(SINP) has been changed to reflect current needs in the province's job market.
"The changes announced today will create an increasingly fair immigration
program that will foster greater growth in the province," Advanced Education, Employment
and Immigration Minister Rob Norris said. "Importantly, the ministry is strengthening the
integrity of the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program"
The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program has been capped at 4,000 nominees per year since 2010.
In addition to the new program changes, Rob Norris has reiterated Saskatchewan's request to the
federal government to increase the province's allocation under the provincial nominee program to
6,000 nominees per year. .
The government's media release lists the following changes:
- The launch of additional consultations on foreign worker protection legislation to ensure that foreign nationals living in Saskatchewan during their recruitment, immigration and settlement process are protected. The proposed legislation will also benefit Saskatchewan employers by requiring immigration consultants and recruiters to be in good standing in Saskatchewan. The ministry will develop a registry of approved consultants and recruiters that employers can easily access.
- Prioritizing the review and nomination of skilled worker applications to better address the growing needs of Saskatchewan's economy. This will, in part, help address skilled labour shortages that are affecting growth in Saskatchewan businesses.
- Family category nominees will now require a job offer to more effectively connect high skilled applicants to high skill positions in Saskatchewan. In addition, supporting Saskatchewan family members will be limited to supporting one application per household until the principal applicant and their family members have successfully settled in Saskatchewan, creating greater fairness in our immigration programs.
- Students graduating from post-secondary institutions outside Saskatchewan will now require one year of full-time permanent employment experience in the province before accessing the program. This will ensure that out of province graduates attach to the labour market and are more likely to settle permanently.
- Applicants to the Entrepreneur category will now be required to have net worth and providence of funds verified by an independent third party prior to submitting an application. This change is being made to increase the quality of applications received by the program.
