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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. - c" b& g- {; e, ~8 H$ ]
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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. 7 s# v2 q% I0 }' J1 _& l
7 _5 R7 V/ }" T& iThe rise to 25,000 immigrant workers per year will happen over the next 10 years under the provincial nominee program. 8 w: s. W# d+ e
# H6 f- ~# v! C% w, xRight now, 2,500 workers per year come under the program. 7 S: f$ x) w3 |0 k7 z- v( W% f
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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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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. , |" |" E4 B; D$ d- L# q
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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.
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7 x$ F- x/ ` i2 {4 h8 j xBut Birjandian said Alberta’s often unaffordable housing remains a daunting hurdle for many newcomers. # l( ^" b! ] G/ E; X
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“For people coming in, it is a bigger issue for settling in,” he said.
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6 t2 E0 V' _2 V6 N“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 ^! z2 m& |3 W3 ]- p
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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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