Alec Salloum
Regina Leader-Post
A pause on the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) should be lifted by the end of this month, according to the province.
“We recognize that this is causing stress for some people,” said Minister of Immigration and Career Training Jim Reiter on March 7. “We’re going to make this as short term as we possibly can.”
SINP offers immigrants an opportunity to attain permanent residency — with an emphasis on attracting skilled workers, people already in Saskatchewan and those looking to start a business or operate a farm. The pause came into effect on Feb. 18, 2025, following changes made to national immigration targets.
“We felt it would be incredibly unfair to keep accepting applications,” said Reiter. “Almost 200 applications come in a week. By the end of the month, we’d be using up all the allocations. So we’re going to take a very brief pause.”
Reiter noted that the province typically has about 7,200 spots available, but that number has been cut to 3,600. The federal government mandates that 75 per cent of those spots be used for temporary residents in Canada, meaning the number of workers from abroad is limited to approximately 900 people.
There will be a recalibrating of which sectors SINP targets in terms of attracting workers, but Reiter said health care will remain a priority. He also said changes to national targets are “a significant concern” and he continues to speak with the federal minister responsible for the portfolio.
Some observers have other concerns.
“Pausing this program without notice is reckless,” said Noor Burki, the Saskatchewan NDP’s shadow minister for immigration and career training, on March 7.
Aleana Young, shadow minister for economy and jobs, said the same. She added that it happened during a time of “chaos with our largest trading partner,” referring to ongoing tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump.
“Saskatchewan small businesses need certainty and stability,” said Young.
Without those things, the two NDP MLAs argued that workers already in the province through SINP could look to move if they’re able, while others may face precarious status if applications are left to expire amid the pause. The NDP called for the Saskatchewan government to bring back SINP immediately.
“This is a change that was made wholesale overnight,” said Young.
