 鲜花( 2)  鸡蛋( 0)
|
http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Alberta/2007/05/13/4177280.html
% S. M: q g, p1 ] j: B' h$ r/ k. C7 J0 |/ V% u
3 k6 L4 v2 f4 k6 B% f' w b
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. ' Y r& v$ `1 U ^2 D' i3 Q
+ E4 j9 u2 Q6 @# B/ R+ p' p, gAlberta Premier Ed Stelmach says the agreement will cut red tape and give the province increased influence and control of immigration.
$ X0 d2 ]) [* L
4 \7 E9 M! q7 a# r3 O' AThe rise to 25,000 immigrant workers per year will happen over the next 10 years under the provincial nominee program.
F2 O* p+ f& {& a% m; P8 n5 E* p a. H' V
Right now, 2,500 workers per year come under the program.
, B5 d9 {) q1 f% {& z$ \+ f7 X1 m, h0 t8 H) c1 V& D; G0 |
Federal Immigration Minister Diane Finley said the changes will be noticed by people offering their skills to Canada.
$ N% o o' o0 J2 C k' }9 g
; K) V% S: D8 N# m% A5 B7 BThe 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. $ l& K1 X$ P$ p- T
3 j7 O7 B) `& ]& w& |
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. ]7 T' a6 ^* H u$ P
6 ?+ Y1 S; `/ _( O
But Birjandian said Alberta’s often unaffordable housing remains a daunting hurdle for many newcomers. H O' B- i" X( p# d" D' R
: Y; f" _! {- @- S6 ^7 q! r. E
“For people coming in, it is a bigger issue for settling in,” he said.
! x! Y1 V0 a4 U( h/ k
& J: Y4 _8 Z0 e3 v+ s7 D2 N" f“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.” + Y- U( W6 O2 W, F0 ~
! S$ a- ^& {* U& @$ d6 jStelmach said the province is giving $285 million in new money for affordable housing and is trying to tackle that problem. |
|