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http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Alberta/2007/05/13/4177280.html3 g! c: o3 O F' {: F) P# V
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2 P6 }3 a! ~9 G1 J$ JCALGARY — 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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Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach says the agreement will cut red tape and give the province increased influence and control of immigration. / n. D& O# R0 S& c9 Z7 x- z5 E* |
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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.
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" {7 v, j) M+ B7 ?# wRight now, 2,500 workers per year come under the program. ( R E) Y+ f8 i$ F8 k2 |
2 r- w$ u5 l; l; uFederal Immigration Minister Diane Finley said the changes will be noticed by people offering their skills to Canada. 8 I- |% ^( l" F! r
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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. 3 {& v( n d8 p0 g( k
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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. 7 ?# |& e u( Y. B9 n* u' ^
7 T, h' x2 i& S! q9 Y pBut Birjandian said Alberta’s often unaffordable housing remains a daunting hurdle for many newcomers. 7 s$ V: n! L: U. p3 r
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“For people coming in, it is a bigger issue for settling in,” he said. k; N# [4 h. F7 h8 f" Y
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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.” 0 m0 t1 D* A8 q$ y9 |$ P# S
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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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