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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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! W( v) d2 u! t& K( D' KAlberta 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. H. d) w! U/ I9 _! {4 c
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Right now, 2,500 workers per year come under the program. . }1 \- [, I% S% p# T
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Federal Immigration Minister Diane Finley said the changes will be noticed by people offering their skills to Canada.
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/ H" o4 Y( k0 [2 Y7 M0 t r9 PThe 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. - @0 I* m/ Q# E
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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. # E, h' q9 t$ f) r) [
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But Birjandian said Alberta’s often unaffordable housing remains a daunting hurdle for many newcomers. 3 n. V( h3 R' Q2 n- s, j6 M m) \, _8 N
! w% [# o+ [' h6 H6 d- t“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.” 5 u6 O3 G. {6 K& s) T
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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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