Saskatchewan is expanding its immigration program
An additional 279 professions are now eligible for PML.
The Saskatchewan government is taking drastic measures to keep intermediate— and lower-skilled workers in the province. To that end, it has decided to expand the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SIMP), specifically the Existing Work Permit stream for Saskatchewan Work Experience.
"Creating more permanent residency opportunities for displaced Ukrainians and other international workers, is just another way our government is further supporting Saskatchewan's businesses and economy," commented Member of the Provincial Legislative Assembly Terry Jenson on behalf of Immigration and Career Training Minister.
Previously, only newcomers in high-skilled occupations and designated trades were eligible for the Existing Work Permit stream.
It is now open to lower— and intermediate-skilled professionals, provided they have already worked in Saskatchewan and meet the other criteria of the program. These include language requirements and a full-time, permanent job offer. In total, this expansion will affect 279 occupations, including farm labourers, truck drivers, retail sales, nurse aides and equipment operators.
To apply under the new enhanced stream, applicants must have:
- the eligible work permit;
- Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or a Francophone mobility work permit, or — for recently arrived Ukrainians — a CUAET visa.
Special gratitude for this step of the Saskatchewan government was expressed by Elena Krueger, Ukrainian Canadian Congress of Saskatchewan President:
"The Ukrainian Canadian Congress of Saskatchewan is grateful to the Government of Saskatchewan for providing refuge and support to displaced Ukrainians arriving to our province. Thank you as well to the many Saskatchewan employers who have welcomed Ukrainian newcomers into their workplaces by providing training and employment opportunities. We look forward to continuing our work with the provincial government to enhance opportunities and supports for displaced Ukrainians seeking to build their lives in safety here in Saskatchewan."
The Saskatchewan government recently successfully negotiated an increase in the annual allocation of provincial immigration applicants for 2023, 2024 and 2025 (we wrote about the federal immigration plan in detail here).
Immigration plays a vital role in supporting Saskatchewan's growing economy. There are currently more than 16,000 job openings in the province posted on SaskJobs and National Job Bank websites. A total of 112,260 job openings are projected to open in Saskatchewan over the next five years.
