We can do more

It was encouraging to hear Premier Brad Wall’s Sept. 10 announcement that Saskatchewan can support more refugees (“Province commits cash to refugee crisis”).

But Saskatchewan has not been doing its part in welcoming refugees. While provincial immigration has expanded five-fold over the last 10 years, the number of refugees accepted by the province remains stuck at 600 per year. Manitoba, with much the same population size, accepts more than double what we do.

Saskatchewan could use the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) to bring more refugees. This program has attracted food service and retail workers, nurses, welders, and truck drivers, meeting the program’s criterion that immigrants make a positive contribution to the economy and society.

Just as refugees from Hungary and Vietnam contribute to the province, so will refugees from the Middle East. A yearly target number for refugees could be part of SINP. The federal government would help meet the target, as it does with economic immigrants.

An extra $150,000 is welcome news for immigrant settlement agencies. Funding for language training, housing assistance, and labour market preparation is often uncertain and inadequate for these non-profit organizations. But the federal government tells potential refugee sponsors that the cost of sponsorship is $25,000. The extra provincial funds are equivalent to sponsoring only six families.

Through SINP, the province could set a target and take responsibility for settlement of refugees. My suggestion is to at least double the number of refugees to the province in the next year.

Paul Gingrich, Regina