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http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Alberta/2007/05/13/4177280.html) ~, G( k" K& Z* T
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3 n. j( `& u; v; M( M& }3 PCALGARY — 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. : ?. z: s" ^2 x I
* l; L d- K1 x _# lAlberta Premier Ed Stelmach says the agreement will cut red tape and give the province increased influence and control of immigration. + H" R5 B. d5 v( q
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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. / Y% _5 @8 Z: _% B1 S
% {& X% X' q1 l; g2 F. LRight now, 2,500 workers per year come under the program. ! p+ U( g8 X1 U* ~% W9 v5 [8 |
: x( ~) P2 C- s! P8 pFederal Immigration Minister Diane Finley said the changes will be noticed by people offering their skills to Canada. ' `1 G/ L% a6 j9 G( l) |4 ^
r! \* l K# v) [! k4 F# _3 N" FThe 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. - t. p. h# \1 R( r* I" u
2 z) \4 p4 Y6 h+ v8 h7 Q$ L, M" g# MBut 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. ! i3 @- Q1 i1 E; A/ g1 H; u
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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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