Saskatchewan is hoping that a new piece of legislation will allow it to become the Canadian destination of choice for immigrants, allowing it to grow its population to 1.4 million in only eight years.
The Prairie province now has a population of slightly more than 1.18 million people.
This also indicates Saskatchewan hopes to add another 220,000 people, or roughly 18.7 percent, to its population by 2030. The province introduced the Labour Mobility and Fair Registration Practices Act earlier this month to help it meet that demographic goal while also creating 100,000 jobs over the next eight years.
“To meet the demands of Saskatchewan’s growing economy, it is important that we develop our current labour force as well as recruit domestically and internationally to bring more skilled workers to the province,” said provincial Immigration Minister Jeremy Harrison.
“This new legislation will be the most comprehensive of its kind and make Saskatchewan a destination of choice for skilled professionals and tradespeople.”
The act will improve credential recognition for foreign-trained workers and assist employers in key sectors such as healthcare, construction, and information technology in filling jobs that are currently going unfilled due to a lack of qualified applicants. To administer the act and assist regulatory bodies in meeting their obligations, a Labor Mobility and Fair Registration Practices Office are being established.
The province stated in a statement that this will include working with regulatory bodies to examine timeframes for registration decisions, registration application requirements, qualification assessment processes, and internationally trained recognition pathways. Several other Canadian provinces have already passed legislation requiring regulatory bodies to follow domestic trade agreements and support fair registration practices for internationally trained workers. The new legislation has received positive feedback from professional organizations.
“As we enter the busiest time of the year for the construction sector in Saskatchewan, it is more important than ever that our members have access to a wide pool of skilled tradespeople,” said Mark Cooper, chief executive officer of the Saskatchewan Construction Association.
“The introduction of this new act will ensure that we maintain our safety standards and can quickly grow our workforce of skilled workers in a timely and efficient manner.” Keith Moen, executive director of the North Saskatoon Business Association, agreed.
“With demand for Saskatchewan’s food, fuel, and fertilizer increasing and expected to increase even more in the coming years it is absolutely critical that Saskatchewan is able to meet the labour needs of the future,” he said.
“The Labour Mobility and Fair Registration Practices Act will ensure that Saskatchewan is well-positioned to attract and retain the necessary talent that will help propel our province forward not only in the near future but in the long-term as well.”
Legal Disclaimer: This article is provided for information purposes only.
Read all the Latest News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Add comment