IMMIGRATION Recruiting skilled overseas employees with more and more diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds will increase as local employers rely on attracting skilled workers from other countries to grow. Foreign workers can fill labour shortages in Canada and bring new skills and knowledge to help the city’s economy grow.

Changes to the Saskatchewan Immigration Nominee Program (SINP) are intended to address concerns of both immigrants and the federal government. The focus is on attracting workers with high-skill employment offers, while accepting some applications from workers in demand occupations without the requirement of pre-arranged employment. The new online application system for SNIP has Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) committing to process applications within six months or less, compared to one to four years under the old “first come, first served” application system. The new category targets individuals with post secondary education and training in occupation that are in demand in the province.

These high-skilled individuals must have significant work experience, high language skills, and be well educated. The online application is available on www.economy.gov.sk.ca/immigration/express-entry or call 306-798-7467.

Changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program announced by the Federal government have added new requirements, fees and longer wait times even though small business relies on the program to fill vacancies in critical demand trades. The federal government caps the number of new foreign workers that companies can hire at 20 per cent. In 2016 the cap was cut to 10 per cent.

NEWCOMERS CENTRE The centre for Moose Jaw Multicultural Council’s Gateway for Newcomers is located at 432 Main Street North, Moose Jaw, SK., (phone 306.693.4677), offering programs and services including access to English as a Second Language classes, childcare, and assistance with employment and immigration related matters.