Saskatchewan launches two new projects to help future immigrants in preparing better for job market

To prepare future immigrants to Saskatchewan for local labor market and improve their transition to the workforce before they enter into the Province, the Saskatchewan government has recently launched two innovative projects.

The project named "Foreign Credential Recognition Support for Labor Market Needs in Saskatchewan" will help potential immigrants to Saskatchewan get their international credentials recognized before they arrive in Canada, thus facilitating newcomers in their transition into the labor market more rapidly. This will also help in meeting high-demand labor needs of Saskatchewan employers.

The project is funded by $3 million on a pilot basis by Human Resources and Social Development Canada’s Foreign Credential Recognition Program (FCRO) in partnership with Citizenship and Immigration Canada. It will be delivered by the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST), which will establish a system for verifying that credentials and job experience obtained abroad are equal to Canadian standards.

For now, the pilot will target potential immigrants (to Saskatchewan) only from Ukraine, the Philippines and Vietnam having skills and experience in limited mechanical trades: welding, heavy-duty equipment and agricultural machinery.

A new section titled "Internationally Educated Health Professionals (IEHP)" has been added on Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program’s web portal as another project. This information-pack resource provides internationally educated health professionals with access to information and tools designed to help them integrate quickly, such as access to clear and accurate information about healthcare regulators, the licensing process, credential recognition, and latest job opportunities in healthcare. This resource will not only help Saskatchewan attract more healthcare workers but also help connect IEHPs to the people, resources and services they need to stay and succeed in Saskatchewan.

The IEHP portal responds to research conducted in 2006-07 that identified challenges IEHPs face in becoming licensed and practicing in their fields. Stakeholders, including IEHPs, employers, training institutions and regulatory bodies identified a critical need for accessible, clear and accurate information.

Developed in cooperation with a variety of stakeholders, the first phase of the IEHP portal (www.immigration.gov.sk.ca/iehp) serves as a gateway to other IEHP web resources. Over the next two years, the information will be expanded and enhanced. Funding for this phase and future development is provided through a partnership with Health Canada and Saskatchewan's Ministry of Health.