Saskatchewan has put a pause on its Hard-to-Fill Skills Pilot program for a review that is set to conclude in Spring 2024. Occupations in the healthcare, agriculture, or value-added agriculture sectors are excluded from the closure.
Under the program, which was initiated in December 2021 “for intermediate and low-skilled workers in eligible, high-demand occupations,” workers with a job approval letter from an employer were eligible to apply for the Saskatchewan Immigration Nominee Program after working for as little as six months with that employer.
The provincial government said that it would continue processing employer-approved forms submitted before January 11, and it would consider applications that were added until January 22 for existing employees in the province.
Saskatchewan said that the program category was paused as it had reached capacity on nominations, and it was a temporary category with fixed allocations.
“The banner stated that depending on the program demand, thresholds or caps may be implemented to manage the number of applications under this pilot,” Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Immigration and Career Training said in the emailed response, as per CBC News.
Read More Canada Immigration News
Canada Aims To Improve Lives Of Nurses With New Program
International Student Visa Allowance In Nova Scotia Reduced By A Third
Criticism Mounts Over Quebec Family Immigration Delays
Moreover, the government said that the program review will evaluate the pilot’s outcomes to determine if and when the program will begin again.
The sub-category was for intermediate and low-skilled workers in eligible, high-demand occupations who:
- Have an offer for a job in Saskatchewan.
- Meet the criteria of the sub-category.
- Intend to reside in Saskatchewan as a permanent resident. Note: all nominees with temporary work permits must reside in Saskatchewan.
Watch Video
The following applicants cannot apply:
- Those claiming refugee status from the Government of Canada.
Applicants may not be eligible if:
- They did not provide the required documents at the time of submitting their application.
- They were not able to prove that they plan to live and work in Saskatchewan.
- They and/or their representative have intentionally misrepresented themselves in the application.