Hazel’s Blog IV, IMCD - 02

PNP need for family reunification and "Abrupt changes to Saskatchewan’s Provincial Nominee Program;   May 28, 2012 FWCanada"

The notice about the change was brought to light on May 2^nd, 2012.  No transition period, no preparation, it just happened.  It’s amazing how quickly changes can occur to cancel a process. 

Our provincial nominee programs are a pathway to employment for immigrants who want to come and who we need to fill a skill shortage.  I believe that this is the trend and will be here to stay for some time. 

Baby boomers are retiring, we keep hearing about this and also we have a low birth rate.  I believe in times past that there was one time that there were more abortions registered then live births registered in Toronto.  Excerpt from:  wcr.ab.ca/Columns/OpinionsStories/tabid/70/entryid/.../Default.aspxCached

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29 Aug 2011 – By 1982, there were more abortions than live births in the city of Toronto. I have talked to physicians who practiced medicine during that time.

I believe we are heading into a time of economic change and need that we may not have experienced to this degree before. Back in the late sixties and seventies the birth rate dropped.  Most couples were having one or two children compared to the larger families of days gone by. 

I believe we can fill the gaps and increase our population concern by inviting more immigrants and developing programs that make it viably for a mother or father to work and afford child care for both single and married couples of all income brackets.  Sometimes the middle income level becomes the working poor.  The economic balancing ball, with no tax breaks.

If we don’t have the Canadians and the new immigrants to cover the jobs as the aging population retire; what will the answer be to address such a need? What would the affect be on our economy within and to our international trade without?  I believe that the PNP fast track for business entrepreneurs that BC has should be a module followed for not only business investment and self-employed streams, but for other occupations as well. PNP helps the new immigrant to have a job to come to, or a business or to have been or be a student with a Canadian University (accredited).

PNP programs are great, the newcomer to a job that needs to be filled and matches their occupation and abilities to become economical established.  I believe having family with them is the comforting fact that influences their performance and wellbeing in a positive manner

This is time to prepare for the labour market climate, the economic boom that is upon us.  If we can change a PNP policy and regulations so fast and so abruptly, perhaps we can create them to accommodate the needs just as quickly.  Something to think about, are we already starting to scramble?

Limiting family applications in Saskatchewan is devastating news for the new PN who had high hopes of having all their family members with them.  Now they can only nominate one individual at a time, before they could sponsor multiple relatives for a permanent resident visa all at once.  Having ones family with them I believe would make life easier and help the integration process. 

The Saskatchewan government has placed a limit on applications and the primary candidate must be employed here in Saskatchewan for a 6 full months before they can sponsor any additional family members.  There are other PNP programs and the federal family class to which they may apply as an alternate route to fit into Saskatchewan’s own reunification legislation.  They must be able to financially support their family to ensure that they don’t need to pull from government. 

By instilling these new changes the goal is to reduce the burden upon provincial government’s social welfare systems by supporting those who can become economically established.  I’m wondering how it got to be a burden in the first place, what measures were not taken and how can we plan and prepare to avoid making our newcomers feel like they are a burden.  Proper screening and diligent investigations before approval could be intensified to ensure that the financial stability is there.  Also do we play a part, when we bring in newcomers to a job they end up getting laid off from when the boom turns to bust?  I believe catching the financial need that could occur during paid work or in the event of a lay off; should be reviewed more intensely and the ability to become economically established with the job or without should be confirmed before approval is granted.

It’s been said that Canada, the government wants to tighten the ropes for the family reunification program to stop and discourage abuse of the system and to secure the economic integration and welfare of sponsored applicants. 

Ottawa’s recommendations at the risk of losing the program altogether and to further communicate its main objectives, such as: matching the skills of foreign workers to the short term demands of its local labour market, only individuals aged 18 to 49 may now be eligible for sponsorship and must also have an arranged employment off in hand. 

I believe we shouldn’t lose such an opportunity to bring those newcomers who want to come and to provide the opportunity of job matching for them.  We do need this, but we must keep in mind that family members are the supporting platform that keeps our primary applicant/worker in a state of wellbeing.  They are only allowed to sponsor one family member and then work six months before they can sponsor another.  I’m wondering if this process of breaking up the sponsorship from all on one form is going to up the cost for generating separate applications.  More paper work, more government staff will be needed to do the additional work. Is it really cost affective?

It’ll be interesting to watch the processes evolve and unfold over the next few months/years.