
The City of Warman and Prairie Sky Chamber of Commerce (PSCC) are suggesting improvements to the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP).
In an April 14 letter to the provincial Ministry of Trade and Export, Warman Mayor Gary Philipchuk and PSCC Chair Jaime Holowaty say strengthening the SINP program requirements, specifically English-language proficiency, will benefit both entrepreneurs enrolled in the program and communities where they establish their businesses.
“It’s a good program, but there are some flaws,” said Philipchuk in an interview April 21. “At the present time, because of COVID-19, the SINP program is on pause. There are no new applicants being accepted.
“The provincial government is reviewing the SINP program and looking for feedback and solutions from communities, so this is a good opportunity to provide constructive suggestions. We don’t want the program to stop; we just want to improve it.”
Philipchuk said the SINP program encourages investment.
“We’re very much in favour of that and we welcome entrepreneurs and new businesses,” said Philipchuk. “But there’s room for improvement in the program. The goal should be to help these new businesses be successful in both the short-term and the long-term.”
Philipchuk said currently, immigrant entrepreneurs enrolled in the SINP program account for 21 per cent of store front businesses in Warman and eight per cent in Martensville.
“So it’s a fairly substantial proportion of the business community,” he said. “We are open for business, and we want to be a catalyst to help our businesses be successful.
“We want to see them make money, and we want people who invest here to stay and raise their families here.”
The City of Warman has been involved in the SINP program for the past five years. But, Philipchuk noted, it is a provincial program. The city does not have any jurisdiction over its requirements or operation.
“The other area where the program can be improved is in monitoring and oversight by the province,” said Philipchuk. “The province needs to support participants and also hold accountable to ensure that agreed expectations are being met.”
The local chamber of commerce is also looking to help businesses thrive.
In February, 2021, the PSCC invited all immigrant entrepreneurs in Warman and Martensville to participate in two round-table discussion sessions. The goal of the sessions was to better understand the challenges the entrepreneurs are experiencing and find ways of helping them succeed.
During the sessions, it quickly became evident that the lack of English fluency was the biggest challenge. Volunteer interpreters were needed to facilitate any communication at all.
Great Plains College (GPC), which has campuses in Warman and Martensville, currently offers English classes. In response to the sessions in February, the PSCC and city officials are working with GPC to design an English program that focuses on basic business English communications.
However, there needs to be stronger English-language requirements in the SINP program itself, said Philipchuk.
“As it currently stands, no level of English-speaking ability is required in the SINP entrepreneurial stream,” said Philipchuk. “It is recommended; but it’s not a requirement like it is in the hospitality and health care streams of the program.”
Philipchuk said the same concerns are being expressed in several communities across the province.
In the April 14 letter, the City of Warman and PSCC “strongly recommend” a “Level 4” English fluency requirement for the entrepreneurial stream of the program.
In the letter, Philipchuk and Holowaty say the program as it currently exists could be setting up immigrant entrepreneurs for possible failure.
“Honestly, without (basic English), it’s extremely difficult to integrate into a new country, let alone operate a successful business,” they state in the letter.
“While the SINP program brings investment to our province, without the additional program requirements and business support these businesses are not being set up to succeed and many will not be viable, “