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http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Alberta/2007/05/13/4177280.html2 u/ Q- B9 m" k4 |7 P& Y! }" X! b
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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 R; |' S6 @. Q5 |( y/ i8 U4 O
* ~3 o4 k p1 R( s9 ]" L0 S( R% hAlberta Premier Ed Stelmach says the agreement will cut red tape and give the province increased influence and control of immigration. 5 _) d/ e( R" _
8 @/ l& w* s8 b1 \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. / J! l) s5 K; \
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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 k) N ] q/ t' Z+ O6 M! \
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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. 5 A. u7 A/ k7 b1 \
' x h1 z( o, B; z) w2 B1 FBut Birjandian said Alberta’s often unaffordable housing remains a daunting hurdle for many newcomers.
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“For people coming in, it is a bigger issue for settling in,” he said.
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, g {9 z3 h0 O1 K+ C3 I“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.” , X* j% W# R# n
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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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