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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.
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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. + L6 Y. T, m4 {& U/ |, i$ v
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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.
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Federal Immigration Minister Diane Finley said the changes will be noticed by people offering their skills to Canada. 2 E' e6 @/ Y% t. r. \! V
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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.
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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. - d! e4 b/ ]" v5 q
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But Birjandian said Alberta’s often unaffordable housing remains a daunting hurdle for many newcomers.
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! g* v( r- }9 E“For people coming in, it is a bigger issue for settling in,” he said. 7 @6 ], S2 V! w
- N6 W: O& i7 w5 Y) l“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.” 4 N2 s: n7 J+ m W
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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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