Canada: More UK Migrants Wanted

Canada is putting skilled workers on a fast track for immigration visas to encourage more applications. Alberta’s employment minister Hector Goudreau has been sent to the UK to ‘target’ those tempted by a new life in Canada.

Canadian immigration are hoping to recruit GPs, teachers, nurses, electricians, carpenters, engineers, construction workers, management consultants, and cardiac and diabetic specialists, although anyone of any age can apply.

Mr Goudreau, who has been in Britain for a week, said, “Somebody from London might be able to sell their small flat and come to Alberta where they can buy a detached house with a huge back yard and huge front yard for the same amount. The cost of living is considerably less than in the UK. Our salaries are comparable or even higher, so anyone who moves over would be able to make money and set some aside.”

Mr Goudreau added that the economy in Alberta - which is founded on oil reserves - was constantly growing, and has remained steady despite the global credit crunch.

He continued. “We are looking at attracting 50,000 foreign workers within the next year alone. There is beautiful scenery, the health care system is second to none in the world and our educational system is second to none in the world. We have some of the lowest business taxes, there is no province sales tax on goods.”

Alberta covers a large chunk of prairie and Rocky Mountains and its major cities are Edmonton and Calgary. Its population is 3.4 million and it covers an area over two and a half times the size of the UK.

The capital city of Alberta is Edmonton, located just south of the centre of the province. Edmonton is the main supply and service centre for Canada’s oil sands and other northern resource industries. Calgary, the capital, is Alberta’s largest city and is one of Canada’s major commerce centres. These two cities both have populations over 1 million people.