Saskatchewan & Saskatoon Initiatives in Immigration

1. Saskatchewan & Saskatoon Initiatives in Immigration Joseph Garcea Presentation to PCERII Annual Planning Meeting February 2006

2. Organization of Presentation 1. Immigration Flows to Saskatchewan & Saskatoon 2. Saskatchewan Immigration Initiatives (1998-2005) 3. Saskatoon Immigration Action Plan Initiative

3. Immigration Flows to Saskatchewan & Saskatoon Immigration Flows: • Every 4-5 years Canada receives approximately the same number of immigrants as Saskatchewan’s entire population. • Saskatchewan receives fewer immigrants than almost all other provinces in Canada (except Atlantic Provinces). • During past 20 years Saskatchewan has received 1,500-2,500 immigrants & refugees per year. • Approximately 75% of those arrived in Saskatoon and Regina Retention Rates: • From 1991-2001 the province of Saskatchewan had a retention rate of approximately 50%. • This compares to Manitoba 78%, Alberta 86% and B.C. 88%. • From 1996-2001 Regina had a 57% retention rate. • From 1996-2001 Saskatoon had a 76% retention rate.

4. Retention Rates by Province 1991-2001(This table is drawn from the report produced by Goss Gilroy Inc. Management Consultants in 2005 titled: Retention and Integration of Immigrants in Newfoundland and Labrador– Are we Ready?)

5. IMMIGRATION TO SASKATCHEWAN 1986-2003Source: Prepared by the Canadian Labour and Business Centre using Citizenship and Immigration Canada data

6. “Retention Rates” – Recent Immigrants (1996-2001) by CMAsSource: Prepared by the Canadian Labour and Business Centreusing Citizenship and Immigration Canada data and Statistics Canada, Census data

7. Saskatchewan Initiatives (1) • During the past 8 years Saskatchewan has become increasingly interested and involved in immigration. • Its involvement has focused on 10 key areas: 1. Signing federal-provincial agreements 2. Expanding and resourcing of the Immigration Branch 3. Developing various components of the Saskatchewan Provincial Nominee Program (SNIP) 5. Creation of the Saskatchewan Settlement and Integration Planning Council 6. Initiating the Creation of Local Immigration Coordinating Committees in Regina, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, and Prince Albert. 7. Establishing a process for assessing and developing capacity of medium to small sized communities to create welcoming and supportive environment for newcomers. 8. Survey of need for low skilled immigrants in various regions of the province. 9. Co-funding City of Saskatoon Immigration & Integration Action Plan Project 10. Appointed new ADM responsible for the Saskatchewan Immigration Branch and its various agreements, partnerships and programs.

8. Saskatchewan Initiatives (2) 1998: Signed New Sask-Canada Immigration Agreement 2000-2002: Commissioned Public Consultations on Immigration and Integrationwhich resulted in the report titled: “Meeting Needs and Making Connections: A Report on the Saskatchewan Immigrant and Refugee Settlement Needs and Retention Study.” 2001: Established a New Immigration Branch -Initially 2 full time employees -Now 8 full time employees -Target is 24 employees for the future 2002: Concluded Sask. Immigrant Nominee Program (SNIP) Agreement which included: -Skilled workers -Doctors and Nurses -Farm “owner-operator category

9. Saskatchewan Initiatives (3) 2003: Commissioned Pat Lorje (former MLA) to produce detailed recommendations on Immigration & Integration. The report is titled: “Open Up Saskatchewan: A Report on International Immigration and Inter-Provincial In-Migration to Increase the Population of the Province of Saskatchewan.” 2003: Established the Saskatchewan Settlement and Integration Planning Council 2003: Established Pilot Project with Saskatchewan Trucking Association to attract 240 long haul truckers. 2004: Expanded the categories of eligible businesses venture under SNIP beyond “key economic development sectors” to include “service and retail” businesses. 2004: (May) Signed a 3 Year Agreement for “Foreign Student Pilot Project” ((increased number of years of work after graduation from 1 to 2) 2004: The SNIPprogram was changed to allow foreign students graduating in Saskatchewan and working in their field of study, who want to apply for permanent resident status, to continue working until their permanent resident application is processed. 2004: (November) Signed Sask-Can cost-sharing Agreement Enhanced Language Training Agreement to provide half of the $264K to support research and planning to improve language training for adult immigrants in Saskatchewan. (Agreement is for 4 years renewable annually).

10. Saskatchewan Initiatives (4) 2005: (January) Broadened the Skilled Worker Category by eliminating the “designated skill shortage list thereby expanding SNIP from 2% of job market to 45% of job market. 2005:(June 1) Renegotiated the Canada-Saskatchewan Immigration Agreement -Included Provisions for Increase in Number of Nominees over time (from 500 in 2004-2005 to 5000 by 2008-2009). 2005: (June 6) Increased funding for language training and employment Internship Program by approximately $350K - $200K Enhanced Language Training to match $200K by CIC -$150K for Employment Pilot Internship (language and employment training) 2005: (October) Expanded Health Professional Category of Nominee Program to beyond doctors and nurses to include other health occupations (requiring at least one year of post-secondary education or job training) 2005: (December) Established New “Family Member” Category under SNIP

11. Current Initiatives • Saskatchewan has commissioned a review of the capacities of medium and smaller sized communities in the province to receive and support newcomers. • Saskatchewan is conducting a survey of needs of low skilled workers. • The survey has been sent out to all Regional Economic Development Authorities. The results of the survey may have implications on scope of future immigration programs in the province • It may lead to demands for the federal government to: • Direct more low-skilled immigrants to the province • Broaden scope of Saskatchewan’s Nominee Program to include Low Skill Immigrants. • Saskatchewan appointed a new Associate Deputy Minister Responsible for the Immigration Branch and all of its agreements, partnerships and programs.

12. SASKATOON INITIATIVE (IMMIGRATION ACTION PLAN) • City of Saskatoon has awakened to the importance of Immigration and Integration • It has done so largely due to the work of its Cultural Diversity and Race Relations Committee, which is a citizen advisory committee. • The CDRR Committee and City Council are interested in three matters: • Attracting more newcomers both for community and economic development purposes, • Meeting needs of newcomers, and • Creating a more welcoming community.

13. Saskatoon Recommendation of Cultural Diversity & Race Relations Committee • RECOMMENDATION OF CDRR: “That a report be forwarded to City Council recommending: 1) That the City of Saskatoon develop a strategy and action plan to: a) Accommodate more immigrants to Saskatoon; b) Effectively address the difficulties facing newcomers to improve retention of immigrants; c) Effectively address the challenges facing the community; and d) Take full advantage of the many opportunities and benefits that increased immigration can offer; and 2) That a qualified person be engaged to consult with the various stakeholders and resource persons, to produce a more detailed set of objectives, a proposed strategy and a community based action plan for consideration by City Council.” • Recommendation Approved by City Council City Council approved that recommendation in November 2004. City Council requested that the report be sent to the Provincial Government together witha request for information as to the status of immigration.

14. Purpose & Focus of Issues & Options Paper • The purpose of the issue paper is to provide the basis for the City to produce an Action Plan. • “The Consultants will prepare a report that will define and describe the issues in Saskatoon, utilizing the issue paper as the foundation for developing a broad strategy for action for the City that, in the Consultants’ judgment: • will encourage and promote immigration to Saskatoon, • will improve retention of immigrants who initially settle in the community, • will enable the community to anticipate and deal effectively with the challenges and opportunities that an increased immigrant population will create. • takes into account provincial and federal initiatives in these areas.”

15. Content of the Issues & Options Paper • Produce a report which provides the city with three key elements in producing an action plan: • A Conceptual Framework which highlights key elements of the system(s) of immigrant attraction, reception, integration, and retention in a city-region. • A Needs Assessment of the needs of the community, of newcomers, and of organizations involved in receiving and integrating newcomers. • A list of Issues and Options regarding what is needed for developing and implementing an action plan, including: • The Processes • The Partnerships • The Human and Financial Resources • The Facilities • The Models of Best Practices in Other Cities

16. Consultations Process • The consultants are obliged to ensure that adequate input is received from: • Organizations (secular and religious) and individuals providing immigrant support, • Intercultural relations organizations • existing immigrant communities, • representatives of Aboriginal communities, • representatives of Community Associations, • the business community including the Chamber of Commerce, • the Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority, • public sector employers, • health service providers, • regulators of trades and professions, • institutions of primary, secondary and post-secondary education, • representatives of the appropriate Federal, Provincial, and municipal departments and agencies. • City Council members

17. Importance of Reconciling Immigration and Aboriginal Policies and Programs • In producing the Issues and 0ptions Paper the consultants are very mindful of an important issue noted in the Lorje Task Force Report (Meeting Needs and Making Connectionscommissioned by the provincial government in 2003. • That report emphasized the following it is imperative to reconcile immigration and Aboriginal policies and programs. More specifically it stated that: • “Immigration should not detract from: • Funding for Aboriginal programs • Educational opportunities for Aboriginals • Labour market participation by Aboriginals”