Support plans help rural areas attract immigrants

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Various sectors of the Saskatchewan agricultural and food processing industries, as well as many individual farm operations, are struggling with labour shortages. At the same time, most rural areas of the province would dearly love to bolster their populations with an influx of new families.

Immigration can provide a key piece of the puzzle on both fronts, but Lyle Selinger, a Human Resource Consultant with Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, points out that attracting immigrants to settle in smaller communities is really only half the battle—retaining them is another matter altogether.

“Research suggests that the key factors that attract immigrants to a community include the presence of social and cultural networks and better employment and educational prospects,” Selinger said. “If a community has a support plan in place, it will foster social, economic and cultural integration for immigrants, and strengthen the recruitment and retention of skilled workers in rural Saskatchewan.”

A community support plan is a settlement and integration action plan developed by employers and other local stakeholders to address the settlement needs of immigrants nominated through the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP). According to Selinger, a successful community support plan is based on community consensus, engagement and action, and creates a “welcoming community” for immigrants by providing practical support services and cross-cultural mentoring necessary to help them adapt smoothly to their new environment.

Employers wishing to sponsor immigrants through the SINP receive additional points in the consideration process if they develop or participate in a community support plan or employer support plan. “This is done to encourage employers to help ensure a good support network is in place for the workers and families they might want to bring into the province, and to better assist them in adapting to the new culture they will be facing when they arrive here,” Selinger said.

Selinger noted that community support plans are usually quite comprehensive, covering several elements. Participants will want to consider how they might aid newcomers in areas such as finding accommodation; community orientation; language training; schooling for children; health care needs; transportation needs; cross-cultural training; social, cultural and recreational opportunities; and spousal employment.

“These are all factors that affect a new family’s sense of belonging in a community, and influence them to remain there once they have settled. The absence of supports in these areas is often cited as a major reason why immigrants sometimes leave smaller towns for larger centres,” Selinger said.

“With the level of hospitality and ‘good neighbourliness’ found in rural Saskatchewan, making people feel welcome often seems like second nature to the people living there. However, it sometimes just requires a little bit of effort to develop it into a more concerted plan that can be followed to meet the particular needs immigrant families often have.”

Rural communities or employers interested in finding out more about developing support plans as a means of attracting and retaining new immigrants can speak with Lyle Selinger at (306) 682-6722, or e-mail him at lselinger@agr.gov.sk.ca.

For more information, contact:

Lyle Selinger, Human Resource Consultant, Livestock Development Branch
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Phone: (306) 682-6722
E-mail: lselinger@agr.gov.sk.ca