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http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Alberta/2007/05/13/4177280.html2 j3 L- {/ e+ c* J" E
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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. , b5 Z% F7 ^ i; |; o( J; U) _
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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. " t, V. ?0 @* l+ ^
$ ^9 o6 R$ C; X9 w- h% ORight now, 2,500 workers per year come under the program. ( F1 v6 @+ b: A V' Z2 g9 f
4 J O4 O W9 l0 J' N, Z+ nFederal Immigration Minister Diane Finley said the changes will be noticed by people offering their skills to Canada.
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k0 _+ i3 n% Z" e6 A6 cThe 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. . O* Q- g+ J8 E% u& z/ q
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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.
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But Birjandian said Alberta’s often unaffordable housing remains a daunting hurdle for many newcomers. 8 L5 k. ~# y/ f
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“For people coming in, it is a bigger issue for settling in,” he said.
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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.”
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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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