 鲜花( 2)  鸡蛋( 0)
|
http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Alberta/2007/05/13/4177280.html
% `. h5 b& _& e/ w& J0 I4 O* L" d b9 {3 Q1 Q `" Y% Q
. }1 ^) K" ]: x3 D, l3 w' Z4 p
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. 8 o" v) J$ f" f' C- o
% }- c! k( \1 m( m5 C. W" H) {Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach says the agreement will cut red tape and give the province increased influence and control of immigration.
9 A% p; s" P) j! y( D
: v, X Y2 D# j* HThe rise to 25,000 immigrant workers per year will happen over the next 10 years under the provincial nominee program. . B1 d0 A- Y$ [5 |' _# J
1 u; Y: O$ k8 I' y) xRight now, 2,500 workers per year come under the program. 5 B, d7 X$ E4 H9 x9 n
: _4 U0 _# S* I# L; U+ l z/ C
Federal Immigration Minister Diane Finley said the changes will be noticed by people offering their skills to Canada. 3 m* F J- o) K3 V
# A' f! Z# ^) x, g' S3 h
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 Z3 k d7 o' _) p }- V2 N! J1 k3 d: n0 b+ V: A" z
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.
# g X/ ?; h! M r* h: C. m
' P6 g7 i8 R$ X/ Q$ [' vBut Birjandian said Alberta’s often unaffordable housing remains a daunting hurdle for many newcomers. ) T' D+ U \% \' k# a
7 N7 R0 k2 {3 d“For people coming in, it is a bigger issue for settling in,” he said. b+ \1 b, O' I+ r
3 h) R" R! `1 S4 n; h) o6 Z“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.”
9 l" s8 p1 A$ b
. p- }4 K0 X( RStelmach said the province is giving $285 million in new money for affordable housing and is trying to tackle that problem. |
|