Supporting Immigrants and Immigration to Alberta Alberta’s Strategic Policy on Immigration Prairie Centre Annual Planning Meeting, February 10-11, 2006

Ministerial Report on Supporting Immigrants and Immigration to Alberta Approved by Cabinet on September 7, 2005 The Government of Alberta vision: Immigrants and their families choose to live in Alberta, where they are able to fully participate in community life and are valued for their cultural, economic and social contributions. Prairie Centre Annual Planning Meeting, February 10-11, 2006

Alberta’s Strategic Policy Supporting Immigrants and Immigration to Alberta The strategic policy has four broad policy objectives: Welcoming Communities Attracting Immigrants to Alberta Living in Alberta Working in Alberta The policy is available on our internet site http://www3.gov.ab.ca/hre/immigration/index.asp Prairie Centre Annual Planning Meeting, February 10-11, 2006

Welcoming Communities Strategies include: Developing resources and programs to increase Albertan’s awareness and understanding of multiculturalism and diversity. Prairie Centre Annual Planning Meeting, February 10-11, 2006

Attracting Immigrants to Alberta 2 objectives are: Increasing the number of immigrants who chose to come directly to Alberta to minimum of 24,000 each year. Working to remove barriers to permanent immigration faced by international students who complete their education in Alberta. Prairie Centre Annual Planning Meeting, February 10-11, 2006

Attracting Immigrants cont. International Marketing Strategy Provincial Nominee Program Euromission Prairie Centre Annual Planning Meeting, February 10-11, 2006

Attracting Immigrants cont. Off-Campus Work Permits for International Students Prairie Centre Annual Planning Meeting, February 10-11, 2006

Living in Alberta Increase the retention rate of immigrants to 85% Ensure supports are available to assist immigrants successfully settle and integrate into Alberta communities. Prairie Centre Annual Planning Meeting, February 10-11, 2006

Working in Alberta Work to ensure international education, skills and work experience are valued appropriately. Assist employers to benefit from increased immigration to address skill shortages Prairie Centre Annual Planning Meeting, February 10-11, 2006

Challenges and Opportunities Government of Alberta policy and service coordination Community engagement for broad participation to ensure successful integration Addressing the broad range of labour shortages Settlement funding Temporary Foreign Workers Prairie Centre Annual Planning Meeting, February 10-11, 2006

Policy Questions Successful retention strategies Regionalization Community involvement Needs of immigrant families Prairie Centre Annual Planning Meeting, February 10-11, 2006