Sign up for the paNOW newsletter

Sask. opens ‘Express Entry’ for skilled immigrants

Jun 23, 2015 | 1:44 PM

It’s now easier and faster for immigrants who are skilled workers to come to Saskatchewan.
 
They can now apply for permanent residency through the online Express Entry category of the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP).
 
This moves from a first-come-first-serve basis to evaluating the most qualified, experienced, and educated workers, adding an additional 775 immigrant nominees to the SINP.
 
The process is also sped up with the permanent residency awarded within six months of applying. Right now it takes somewhere between one to four years for immigrants to get permanent residency, depending on their country.
 
It’s an attempt to address Saskatchewan’s need for more skilled trade workers, like journeypersons.
 
“You bring in 15 journeypersons. That means you can hire 30 apprentices and that means you can hire 50 local labourers and often they are younger people looking for experience in the trades and this is a way to get their foot in the door,” said Jeremy Harrison, minister responsible for immigration, jobs, skills and training.
 
Most construction companies are struggling to find enough skilled workers like journeypersons. Coram Construction is excited by the news.
 
“Most of the local journeypersons are already working,” said district manager Ian Knibbs. “There are not tradesmen just sitting around waiting to come to work.”
 
Express Entry only applies to skilled trades workers. Harrison said it does not apply to farms, market gardening or food processing operations. However, he did explain this will take pressure off the nominee program to make room for workers in other areas.

panews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @Andrew5hepherd