Overview of Alberta’s Immigration Policy

Alberta looks to immigrants to fill skill shortages

A new Alberta policy to attract and retain immigrants will help address skill shortages and support the successful transition of immigrants into Alberta’s economic, social and cultural life. The province aims to attract at least 24,000 immigrants to Alberta each year, up from the nearly 16,500 immigrants who moved here in 2004.

The policy, called Supporting Immigrants and Immigration to Alberta, was released on October 4, 2005.

The Ministry is responsible for immigration policy, settlement programs, language training programs and federal/provincial relations and agreements related to immigration. We are also responsible for the coordination of Government of Alberta immigration initiatives and programs.

The following settlement services for immigrants are co-funded with Citizenship and Immigration Canada:

• General settlement assistance includes information, orientation, interpretation/translation, or referral services for new Albertans through contracts with a network of immigrant-serving agencies.
    
• Language Assessment and Referral Centres in Edmonton and Calgary where adult immigrants can have their English language skills assessed and to find about available classes.
    
• Employment readiness programs specifically designed for new immigrants to Alberta. The services include counselling and workshops to assist new immigrants in understanding the Canadian workplace and how to find a job in Canada.
    
• Enhanced Language Training programs across the province that are designed to assist skilled immigrants acquire the technical and workplace language skills to practice their profession in Alberta.

Direct services funded by the Ministry are:

• English as a second language (ESL) drop-in programs in Calgary and Edmonton as well as ESL services or classes are funded for individuals who are not eligible for federal Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) programming.
  
• Bridging to work programs designed to assist recent immigrants to gain Canadian work experience and upgrade their skills to fully use their knowledge and expertise in the Alberta labour market.