REGINA – Representatives from cities, towns, and villages from across the province are exchanging ideas on how to best attract and retain immigrants at this year’s Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) conference in Regina.
“It’s part of a growing community and it’s really a new era of growth,” said Regina Mayor Michael Fougere. “We’re struggling in some ways to make sure that we can accommodate all those that are coming here.”
Language and other support programs help to bridge the gap, but often the difficulty is ensuring immigrants stay in the province.
“We’ve seen a huge influx of people from the Philippines come to Weyburn, and it’s great. We’re trying to welcome them,” said Debra Button, SUMA president and Weyburn Mayor.
The Regina Immigrant Women Centre helps more than 600 people per year. However five years ago, the centre helped only about 90 women.
“I think the immigrants and families coming now are much more fortunate than before,” said Neelu Sachdev, the centre’s executive director. “If they are coming as employees, they also have families, who need integration within the Canadian society, within the city, within Regina, within their community.”
Since 2007, more than 48,000 immigrants arrived in Saskatchewan, and 11,000 of those people arriving in 2012 alone.
Premier Brad Wall said Saskatchewan has the need and the space for foreign workers.
“We don’t agree with the federal government on every issue on the immigration file,” said Premier Wall. “We’ve been making a case for changes within the changes with some success.”
Last year, Premier Wall urged the federal government to rethink changes to the temporary foreign worker program, which made it more difficult for employers to hire from overseas.
Comments