News Release - Canada and Alberta sign new immigration agreement

Calgary, May 11, 2007 — The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, the Honourable Ed Stelmach, Premier of Alberta and the Honourable Iris Evans, Alberta Minister of Employment, Immigration and Industry, today signed a new Agreement for Canada-Alberta Cooperation on Immigration.

“Canada’s New Government is committed to working with Alberta and committed to helping newcomers,” said Minister Finley. “This agreement will help Alberta attract immigrants more quickly and ensure our immigration programs meet Alberta’s needs and the needs of newcomers.”

“This agreement fulfils my commitment to pursue a made-in-Alberta approach to immigration," said Premier Stelmach. “It sets out a framework for enhanced federal-provincial immigration cooperation and partnerships, and is a prime example of what can be accomplished by working together.”

“Since Alberta represents 10 per cent of Canada’s population, Alberta’s goal is to receive at least 10 per cent of immigrants to Canada,” said Minister Evans. “This agreement takes us one step closer to that goal as well as addressing our labour shortage.”

The new agreement means:

• Alberta will be able to nominate more immigrants possessing skills needed in the province, for quicker processing by the federal government.
• A new pilot project to speed up the entry of certain foreign health-care professionals who have applied to come to Alberta.
• Enhanced cooperation between Canada and Alberta in overseas immigration marketing initiatives.
• A commitment to establishing mechanisms that would make it easier and quicker for Alberta to get the foreign workers it needs to meet its growing labour force demands.

 “Taken together, the agreement and the related initiatives speak to the strength and flexibility of our relationship,” said Minister Finley. “I look forward to continued progress as we build and expand our partnerships for the benefit of newcomers and Albertans alike.”

The agreement formalizes and builds on the existing collaborative relationship between Canada and Alberta on immigration matters, including the delivery of settlement and integration services. It also recognizes the importance of involving community stakeholders, including service providers, municipalities and the private sector, in welcoming newcomers.

For an electronic copy of the agreements signed today, please visit www.cic.gc.ca or www.alberta.ca.

For further information (media only), please contact:

Government of Canada

Philippe Mailhot
Press Secretary
Minister’s Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-954-1064

Marina Wilson
Spokesperson, Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650

Government of Alberta

Tom Olsen
Communications
Office of the Premier of Alberta
780-427-2251

Lorelei Fiset-Cassidy
Communications Director
Alberta Employment, Immigration and Industry
780-427-5649

Backgrounder

• Canada and Alberta – Improving Cooperation on Immigration