Saskatchewan does not have legislation requiring regulatory bodies and agencies to follow domestic trade agreements or fair registration practices for foreign-trained workers..There is a great need across the province for skilled workers, especially in the key sectors of healthcare, construction, and information technology, say advocates..The government of Saskatchewan introduced The Labour Mobility and Fair Registration Practices Act Bill 81 on Wednesday. .This Act reduces the barriers for skilled workers in the province to use their foreign-trained skills..“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 Jeremy Harrison, Immigration and Career Training Minister..“This new legislation will be the most comprehensive of its kind and make Saskatchewan a destination of choice for skilled professionals and tradespeople.”.NDP Critic for Economy and Jobs, and Immigration Aleana Young is happy the government finally moved on something that could have been done long ago..“This has been a longstanding challenge and in many ways a tragedy in the province. I know everyone has their own experience and many people in this province have their own lived experience,” said Young. .“Knowing immigrants to Canada and newly naturalized citizens who are incredibly skilled and cannot have their credentials recognized. Saskatchewan has long been the only province without a process to expedite this.”.The Act creates the Labour Mobility and Fair Registration Practices Office inside the Ministry of Immigration and Career Training..The new office will work with approximately 120 regulated occupations and 60 regulatory bodies in the province to implement the Bill’s requirements..It will examine timeframes for “registration decisions, registration application requirements, qualification assessment processes and internationally-trained recognition pathways.”.Saskatchewan Construction Association (SCA) and the North Saskatoon Business Association (NSBA) support the bill as a move in the right direction..“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, SCA Chief Executive Officer..“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.”.“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,” said Keith Moen, NSBA Executive Director..”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.”.The government’s goal with the Act is to make Saskatchewan the best place to relocate to from within Canada and abroad for skilled workers..Chris Oldcorn is a Western Standard Reporter based in Regina.,coldcorn@westernstandard.news,Twitter: @chrisoldcorn,.Parler: @chrisoldcorn
