CANADA AND SASKATCHEWAN ANNOUNCE A PILOT PROJECT FOR FOREIGN STUDENTS

Judy Sgro, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and Saskatchewan Immigration Minister Pat Atkinson today announced the signing of an agreement for a pilot project that will permit foreign students who graduate from colleges and universities in Saskatchewan to work in the province for an additional year.

"This project marks a step in our efforts to make Canada a destination of choice for foreign students," Minister Sgro said. "It is also projects like these that encourage immigration in a number of regions for graduates who wish to stay in Canada."

The joint agreement, which takes effect on June 1st, 2004, will make it easier for foreign graduates in Saskatchewan to gain an additional year of work experience in their field of study. Currently, following graduation, foreign students may work for a maximum of one year in a job related to their studies without having to obtain a confirmation from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada. Under this new agreement, work permits can be renewed for a second year, making it easier for post-graduates to continue working in the province.

"Saskatchewan's immigration program is opening up to bring more people to our province, including more foreign students," Atkinson said. "This will complement changes that come into effect today to allow foreign post-secondary students who graduate in Saskatchewan and get work in their field to apply to the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP). There are about 1,700 foreign students studying in Saskatchewan who are eligible to apply to the program if they find work here after graduation."

The agreement will ensure that graduate foreign students who wish to apply for permanent resident status will be able to submit their application for immigration and continue working while awaiting a decision. For these graduates, additional time spent in the province is also likely to result in stronger ties to their communities – further increasing the likelihood that they will settle in Saskatchewan if they choose to remain in Canada.

Under the terms of the agreement, both the original work permit and its renewal will only apply to work in Saskatchewan for temporary foreign workers who graduated from a publicly funded post-secondary institution in that province. The work must be related to the graduate's area of study.

The agreement will be in effect for three years during which there will be an ongoing evaluation of the project's impact. CIC has signed a similar agreement in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Alberta and continues to explore similar initiatives in other regions.

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For More Information, Contact:

Simone MacAndrew Press Secretary, Citizenship and Immigration Canad Ottawa Phone: (613) 954-1064	Claire Despins Media Relations, Citizenship and Immigration Canad Ottawa Phone: (613) 941-7035
Anna Arneson Government Relations and Aboriginal Affairs Regina Phone: (306)787-8008