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http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Alberta/2007/05/13/4177280.html
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* e: @3 R k K( Z% N. CCALGARY — 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. 3 y5 [; t+ |" A, ?4 F4 A, e' |
5 X+ ~+ P# g- c+ [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. 8 O; o9 B+ V3 f p3 V
- v. Z$ O6 l7 kRight now, 2,500 workers per year come under the program. " y3 ]6 m+ a7 _; N. u% e
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Federal Immigration Minister Diane Finley said the changes will be noticed by people offering their skills to Canada. , K2 J6 i( f. }* a+ N
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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. 4 k2 l# n1 ?( y/ k9 v
6 o i5 l b6 X7 p7 CIt’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. - ]+ N% s& N4 `$ d5 |# [0 q# `
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But 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. - g* V& _- O9 t$ e
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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.” $ e, _7 y3 i D B$ l% u
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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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