Minister wants feds to loosen new provisions
REGINA — Saskatchewan Immigration Minister Bill Boyd will ask the federal government to loosen what critics are calling “extreme” new provisions of the provincial immigrant nominee program.
The minister’s commitment to negotiate with his federal counterparts follows a Tuesday meeting between Boyd and members of the recently-formed Coalition for a Fair SINP (Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program). During the 90-minute discussion, coalition members outlined possible amendments to the new rules that place restrictions on the number of family members immigrants can nominate to join them here, among other things.
“We would hope that there may be some flexibility in it,” Boyd said.
“We’re going to present a case on behalf of Saskatchewan people to the federal government and we’ll see what happens.”
Boyd did not outline what the province will ask for specifically, nor did he provide an exact timeline. But he did say he will inform coalition group members of the province’s strategy “in the very, very near future.”
The Coalition for a Fair SINP, which formed in response to the May 1 policy changes, is asking for a grandfather clause that would allow immigrants who came to Saskatchewan before May 1 to sponsor more than one extended family member’s application.
Coalition members also believe having to provide proof of a highskills job offer is unfair, saying it’s nearly impossible to expect an employer here would hold a job for the 15-plus months it can take to process immigration documents. They are asking for that clause to be removed.
Syed Moammaz, one of the coalition’s founders, said he came out of Tuesday’s meeting encouraged and “hopeful” the new rules will be relaxed.
“It was a good meeting because we said all we wanted to say, and (Boyd) listened,” Moammaz said.
During a previous interview Monday evening, Moammaz said he’s spoken with numerous people who left their jobs in other provinces and moved their families here under the assumption they could sponsor multiple families from their home countries.
“It was a promise made by the government, and these people are like, ‘OK, you cannot back off with your promise just like that,’” Moammaz said.
Some have contemplated returning to the provinces from which they came, he noted. A Leader-Post story published in June detailed the situation of Shafqat Ali, who said he was moving his family back to Ontario because of the recent policy changes.
“Anytime that we see people that are looking to leave Saskatchewan, yes, it’s a concern,” Boyd said, stressing that the federal government must approve any changes to immigration policy.
On Monday, NDP immigration critic Cam Broten called on the governing Sask. Party to stand up to the federal government when it comes to immigration, also urging Boyd to swiftly make public how the province intends to proceed.
The Coalition for a Fair SINP has hosted three town hall meetings in Saskatoon and Regina in the last few months. Each drew more than 200 people, which Moammaz said proves how serious new Canadians take the family portion of the immigrant sponsorship program.