Making Immigration Work for Saskatchewan

1. Making Immigration Work for Saskatchewan Saskatchewan Economic Developers Association (SEDA) February 22-23, 2006

2. Overview • Saskatchewan Immigration Branch • Options for Saskatchewan employers looking to hire foreign workers • Provincial Program: Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) • Federal Programs • SINP-Skilled Worker • Employers • SINP Family members category

3. Immigration Branch Activities 1.Strengthen economic immigration recruitment • Administer Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) • Provide policy recommendations to government and advice to employers on use of foreign labour (temporary and permanent) 2. Improve immigrant and refugee services • Facilitate labour market attachment, settlement and retention

4. Options for SK Employers: Provincial Program Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) • The SINP is a Saskatchewan designed and administered economic immigration program • Saskatchewan selects a number of skilled or business immigrants to meet provincial needs • 2005-2006 Fiscal Year— Target of 400 Nominations (approx. 1200 people including spouses and dependents)

5. Options for SK Employers: Federal Programs • Skilled Worker Class • Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) • Website: www.cic.gc.ca • Temporary Foreign Worker Program • Administered by Service Canada and CIC • Foreign Worker Program: 2045 Broad Street, Regina, SK S4P 2N6 Phone # (306) 780-3907 Website: www.hrsdc.gc.ca

6. How the SINP works Two Step Immigration Process • Step # 1 – Applicant(s) complete federal and provincial applications • Immigration Branch reviews • If approved, Branch provides nomination certificate to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and nomination letter to applicant • Step #2 – Applicant(s) submit federal forms to CIC • CIC considers application after receiving a provincial nomination certificate • CIC does health, security and criminality reviews and issues visas to nominees and family members

7. SINP Advantages • “Made in Saskatchewan” immigration program • Specific provincial priorities and selection criteria • SINP nominations and work permits are “fast-tracked” through federal immigration • Economic Immigration Advisors available to assist potential immigrants and employers • Promotes the Province of Saskatchewan to potential immigrants

8. SINP Categories 1) Skilled Worker 2) Business 3) Farmer Owner/Operator 4) Health Professionals 5) Foreign Student Post-Graduation Work Permit 6) Family Members 7) Long Haul Truck Driver Project

9. Overview of Skilled Worker Category • Early 2005 announced expansion of SINP Skilled Worker Category • Designated Skill Shortage List ELIMINATED; • Move from 12 to approx. 250 NOC* occupational titles; • Employers can now hire qualified immigrants for jobs representing about 45% of Saskatchewan’s labour market; • This covers about 200,000 jobs in the province. * NOC - The National Occupational Classification is a system for describing the occupations of Canadians. It gives statisticians, labour market analysts, career counselors, employers and individual job seekers a standardized way of describing and understanding the nature of work.

10. Skilled Worker Category • Have a confirmed permanent full-time offer of employment with a Saskatchewan employer [Wages, benefits and conditions of employment must be the same as offered to Canadians with similar skills and experience]

11. Skilled Worker Category-Assessment

12. Overview of Family Members Category • December 2005, the SINP expanded to include a Family Members category • Canadian citizens and Permanent residents who are and have resided in Saskatchewan for the past year, can support their families to live and work in Saskatchewan

13. Family member (non-resident of Canada): Be between the ages of 18-49; Have completed post-secondary education, training or apprenticeship; Have at least one year of work experience in your field of education/training; Have sufficient language capability to be employable in Saskatchewan; Economic resources: Full time permanent job offer, OR Settlement funds ($10, 000 principal applicant and $2000 for each accompanying dependent) Family member in SK: A Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada who has lived in Saskatchewan for the past year; Financially self-supporting; and Provide an affidavit of support for family member Family Members Category

14. SINP and Employers • Expanded Skilled Worker category is more responsive to the needs of employers • Employers determine what occupations to recruit internationally • SINP may be able to provide assistance for linkages overseas: • Employment agencies, training and education institutions • Examples: • Ukraine: Kyiv Youth Labour Centre (KYLC) • Germany: ZAV • International missions/fairs

15. SINP and Employers • Provide new options for communities and employers to become directly involved in attracting and retaining immigrants (i.e. additional points for applicant) • Community Support Plan –Employers and/or community groups can support the settlement of nominees by bringing together community representatives and addressing settlement needs* • Employer Settlement Support –Employers directly assist prospective nominees with settlement needs* *e.g., language training, spousal employment, housing, transportation, schools, etc.

16. SINP and Employers • A new option for applicants without formal occupational certification – The employer must verify competencies by means of an affidavit • Applicants with limited language ability – Employers must verify language level by means of an affidavit • Reduce paper work for employers – less onerous employer application.

17. Contact Information