Saskatchewan Program Reboot and New Priorities
On March 27, 2025, Saskatchewan lifted the five-week pause, rebooting the SINP with stricter criteria. The revamped program prioritizes nominations for workers in health care, agriculture, and skilled trades, aligning with federal directives to target critical labor needs. Overseas recruitment is now limited to these sectors, while other roles require candidates to already hold temporary status in Canada. A 25% cap on nominations. Ironically, nominations for hospitality, food services, retail, and trucking sectors further restrict these industries. The province also closed the Entrepreneur and Farm Owner/Operator streams and excluded certain employers (e.g., spas, salons, pet care services) from SINP recruitment.
The retooled SINP also terminates the Saskatchewan Express Entry and Occupations In-Demand subcategories, with refunds offered for returned applications. Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) holders from non-Saskatchewan institutions and certain Open Work Permit holders (e.g., spousal permits) are now ineligible, citing risks of exploitation and poor retention. These changes aim to maximize the reduced allocation impact but limit opportunities for new entrants.
Navigating the Challenges
Stakeholders can take proactive steps to mitigate the pause’s impact:
Employers: Register for SINP information sessions on April 3 and 9, 2025, to understand new criteria and explore alternative pathways like the Rural Community Immigration Pilot in Moose Jaw. Verify job postings meet SINP requirements to prove local recruitment challenges. Consider hiring temporary residents already in Canada to align with the 75% quota.
Foreign Workers: Consult immigration representative to assess eligibility for other SINP streams (e.g., Existing Work Permit sub-category) or federal programs like Express Entry. Maintain valid work permits and explore job offers in prioritized sectors like health care or trade.
Advocacy: Workers and employers can report concerns to the Program Compliance Branch (pcb@gov.sk.ca) under The Immigration Services Act, which protects against fraud and exploitation.
