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http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Alberta/2007/05/13/4177280.html
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CALGARY — An agreement between Alberta and the federal government will allow 25,000 foreign workers per year to come to the province to aid in its worker shortage. 9 |1 A% l5 J9 l6 w/ w* g @8 }
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Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach says the agreement will cut red tape and give the province increased influence and control of immigration.
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The rise to 25,000 immigrant workers per year will happen over the next 10 years under the provincial nominee program.
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Right now, 2,500 workers per year come under the program. . |" }+ g- R0 x7 A
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Federal Immigration Minister Diane Finley said the changes will be noticed by people offering their skills to Canada. 7 `+ G$ V9 v3 l! y0 z3 ?! j9 i; C
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The pact gives Alberta the power to nominate more immigrants possessing skills needed in the province and also provides more resources to help them settle here. 7 R( _! g( s: a
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It’s a step in the right direction in breaking down time-consuming, frustrating barriers facing immigrants seeking to ply their skills here, said Fariboz Birjandian, chairman of the Alberta Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies. 4 O" z2 c. T' S: t4 _5 i
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But Birjandian said Alberta’s often unaffordable housing remains a daunting hurdle for many newcomers.
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2 [. y& {7 m3 `( U! D“For people coming in, it is a bigger issue for settling in,” he said. . z! u6 c w, B; A/ m3 E: F+ [3 G! J% P
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“And we don’t want Calgary becoming a city where all the rich people live on one side and all the poor on the other.” # S+ y( x3 U+ |9 T
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Stelmach said the province is giving $285 million in new money for affordable housing and is trying to tackle that problem. |
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