Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program

February 5, 2013

Presentation Outline

• Provincial Context and Approach

• Provincial Immigration

• Provincial Immigration Trends

Labour Force Shortage • Employment at an all-time high of nearly 550,000, however…

• Increasing labour market demand driven by economic growth

• Demographic Challenges – Ageing population – Declining birth rates – Increasing retirement

• Increasing Competition – 100% of Canada’s net labour growth from immigration as of 2013/14 – 100% of Canada’s net population growth from immigration as of 2030

The current annual labour force demand in Saskatchewan is projected at ~20,000 jobs per year - total of 75,000-90,000 jobs by 2015.

Labour Market Strategy

• Strategy to meet the province’s labour market needs includes: – Record investment in post-secondary education and

skills training with significant support for First Nations and Métis

– Attraction of residents from elsewhere in Canada

– Recruitment and retention of skilled workers from around the world

• Shared Responsibility

– Provincial government

– Employers

– Schools

– Post-secondary institutions

– Private-sector training providers

– First Nations partners

– Community-based organizations

• Align stakeholder activities around

– Workforce Development

– Workforce Attraction

– Workforce Retention

Labour Market Strategy A core activity

under the Provincial Growth

Strategy is educating,

training and developing a

skilled workforce

Provincial Immigration

• Federal-provincial agreement to support regionally-responsive economic immigration (labour market driven).

• Provincially-administered, made-in-Saskatchewan program.

• Eligibility reflects Saskatchewan’s unique economic & labour market needs.

• The SINP nomination allocation is 4,000 principal applicants for 2012 (~12,000 total newcomers with nominees’ spouses & children included); 2013 allocation is currently being determined by CIC.

• Nominees are high skilled/educated workers with

the language ability needed to perform the

duties of their occupation.

Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP)

Approx. 80% of SK’s

immigrants are

nominees

• The SINP is a two-step process:

1) SINP assesses applicants based on provincial criteria, & nominates them (& their spouse / dependent children) for permanent residency (PR) to CIC

2) CIC assesses the health, security & criminality of nominees (& their spouse /dependent children)

• SINP nominations are “fast-tracked” through the federal immigration system

• SINP nominees may be eligible for a temporary work permit while their PR application is being assessed

SINP Process

Labour Market

Categories

Business Categories

Skilled Worker

Family Referral

Health Professional

International

Student

Entrepreneur

Farm Owner

& Operator

Long Haul

Truck Drivers

Hospitality / Semi-Skilled

SINP Categories

• Varies by category, factors include: – education, work experience, language ability, skill level, settlement &

integration factors.

• Verification of language ability: – IELTS (International English Language Testing System)

– CELPIP (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program),

– education in English institutions, post-secondary English courses.

• Employer confirms language ability required to do job.

• National minimum language requirement for semi-skilled occupations (truck drivers & hospitality), verified through test results.

• Federal health and criminality assessment.

SINP Selection Criteria

• The SINP has an 86% retention rate (3rd highest in Canada).

• Province is investing in a Settlement and Integration Service Delivery Model to help settle and retain newcomers, including 12 new programs to date.

• Programs are organized around four main goals:

1) Facilitating initial settlement of immigrants

2) Improving labour market outcomes for immigrants

3) Facilitating workplace & community retention of immigrants

4) Facilitating access to services & building service delivery capacity

Settlement and Retention

Regional Newcomer Gateways

150 km radius

Rights and Responsibilities

Permanent Residents

• Same rights and responsibilities as all Saskatchewan residents

Temporary Foreign Workers

• Eligible for provincially-funded settlement services

• Valid Work Permit: covered by healthcare

• Expired Work Permit: may be responsible for healthcare costs, but can be reimbursed if permit is renewed

Immigrants are going to over 300 communities in SK

78% of immigrants come through the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP)

75% of SK’s population growth in 2011 was due to immigration

Immigration Trends – Landings

Landings are anticipated to increase from ~9K to ~11.5K

per year starting in 2012.

Immigration Trends – Landings

Immigration Trends – Temporary Foreign Workers

2,949

4,311

5,933 5,883

6,993

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

TFWs Present on Dec. 1

Saskatoon Regina Other Saskatchewan

In the last 5 yrs, 34% of new PRs in SK have been between 0 & 19

years of age

Immigration Trends – Age

Destination (Top 10), 2011

Destination # (%)

Saskatoon 1,238 (41%)

Regina 1,101 (36%)

Prince Albert 74 (2%)

Lloydminster 46 (1.5%)

North Battleford 46 (1.5%)

Moose Jaw 42 (1%)

Yorkton 36 (1%)

Swift Current 34 (1%)

Weyburn 27 (1%)

Estevan 26 (1%)

Other 364 (12%)

Grand Total 3,034 (100%)

Top 5 Destinations for Children & Youth in

2011 (0-19 years)

77% to Regina & Saskatoon 5% to Lloydminster, Prince Albert & North Battleford

Immigrant School-Aged Children by Intended Destination (Top 10), 2011

24% of children in the top 10 destinations are aged 0-4 years

Immigrant School-Aged Children (0-19 years) to Saskatchewan by Source Country (Top 10), 2011

Country of Birth Landings/Arrivals of New Permanent Residents in SK

Philippines 1,297 Pakistan 309 China 179 India 153 Bangladesh 74 Ukraine 68 Nigeria 50 Vietnam 50 Korea 30 Russia 16 Other Countries 808 Grand Total 3,034

Philippines has been the

top source country since

2007 (all ages)

Philippines, India and

China have been in the top 6 since

2008 (all ages)

Immigrant School-Aged Children (0-19 years) in Saskatchewan by Language Ability, 2011

Language Ability Landings/Arrivals of

New Permanent Residents in SK

English 1,419

French 12

Both French & English 27

Neither 1,576

Grand Total 3,034

Online Information

Living in Saskatchewan:

http://www.saskimmigrationcanada.ca/first-things-to-do-in-saskatchewan

Settlement Advisors:

http://www.saskimmigrationcanada.ca/settlement-advisors/

Fact Sheets:

Fact sheets in 24 languages with various information about living in SK, including: “Children’s Education in Saskatchewan”

http://www.saskimmigrationcanada.ca/information-various-languages-english

Immigration Questions:

http://www.saskimmigrationcanada.ca/contact-us

Questions?

Please visit our new page on the Sask Immigration website, “Immigration Data & Trends”: www.saskimmigrationcanada.ca