Media Release
For immediate release—December 1, 2014

SINP Increase is the First Positive News for Immigration All Year

The Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce is very pleased that the federal government has increased the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) nominee cap by 775 spaces, bringing the total number of nominees to 5,500.

“2014 was a tough year for Saskatchewan employers on the labour front,” Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce CEO Steve McLellan said. “The unilateral overhaul and drastic reduction of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) left a lot of Saskatchewan employers in a bind; slowing our economy and reducing operating hours. It also clearly reinforced what we have known for a long time – Saskatchewan does not have a ‘temporary’ labour shortage.”

The Saskatchewan Chamber has been advocating for more SINP spots over the last three years but its efforts to increase this number accelerated after changes to the TFW program earlier this year. The Chamber is pleased that the federal government has listened, although it believes the cap could and should be increased again in the not-too-distant future. As well, the Chamber has been asking for 1,500 one-time nominations to allow Saskatchewan to respond to critical labour market needs.

Beyond the 5,500 persons nominated the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce members are eager to welcome nominees’ spouses and children, an opportunity not available under the TFWP and one that could further help with the labour shortage.

“We are very happy the federal government has enabled Saskatchewan to have a more permanent solution to the labour shortage. Permanent residents enable better planning, encourage employers to invest more in training, and builds stronger communities,” concluded McLellan. “Plus we get all the other benefits these families will bring to our province.”
 

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