June 23, 2008

Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program

Saskatchewan heads to Philippines and Ukraine to recruit workers

Richard Gilbert

staff writer

The Saskatchewan government led a delegation, including representatives from the construction industry, on a recruitment mission to the Philippines and Ukraine.

They were armed with a tool to attract foreign workers. The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) is an immigration program designed to allow the provincial government to select skilled workers and entrepreneurs based on their ability to contribute to the local economy.

Under the program, the provincial government nominates applicants to the federal government for landed immigrant status, if they meet specific criteria.

Rob Norris, minister of advanced education, employment and labour and three SINP officials led a group of 11 employers on a recruitment mission to Manila, Philippines from May 20 to May 30. The employers were interested in attracting potential employees, while government officials provided support through on-site assessment of their eligibility for the SINP.

“This mission to the Philippines is an example of the type of public-private partnerships that are key to increasing immigration, building our communities and sustaining our economy,” Norris said.

“This mission also provides an excellent opportunity to promote Saskatchewan as a centre for investment and trade.”

The group recruitment mission expects to return with a commitment from about 250 skilled workers to move to the province

“I was looking for 16 people in plumbing and heating,” said Jim Gregg, owner of Gregg’s Plumbing and Heating in Regina.

“We left on Tuesday the 20th, arrived on Thursday the 22nd and had a meeting on Friday the 23rd with the Philippines Overseas Employment Agency. I then interviewed 60 people on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday.”

Gregg said he interviewed electricians and carpenters first, because he was only looking for one of each. On Monday he interviewed plumbers and on Tuesday he talked to HVAC people.

“We ended up hiring or signing a contract with 22 people. The first group will arrive in September” he said. “We will phase in their arrival over a four to five month period.”

Another delegation of 12 employers from Saskatchewan made a trip to Ukraine between June 2 and June 13 to recruit skilled labours.

“We were looking for four people,” said Darrell Kincaid, owner of Kincaid Interiors Ltd. in Regina. “We interviewed nine people and offered all nine jobs. Eight out of the nine accepted.”

Kincaid, who is recruiting drywall installers, said it will probably take between three to nine months for these workers to arrive.

Nominees are eligible to receive expedited processing of their applications for work permits and permanent residence. However, the length of time will also depend on how long it takes for potential employees to get their paperwork together.

Some employees must organize passports for their families, which means they must go back to their home town to start an application.

The SINP works through Government of Canada embassies and consulates around the world and does not engage the exclusive services of any agencies or representatives in any jurisdiction.

SINP applicants may choose to engage the services of an immigration consultant, but no immigration consultant has or will be allocated an immigrant quota from the province.

The SINP has set a goal of recruiting 2,800 nominations for the 2008-09 fiscal year.

In 2007-2008, the Philippines was the top source country for the SINP, with 640 nominations.

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