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Saskatchewan puts out red carpet |
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By Jenn Conner » The province of Saskatchewan, reeling from job
losses over the past year, has moved to lure immigrants in a bid to
boost productivity.
In the recently announced 2006 budget, Saskatchewan also revamped its business tax structure to kickstart job growth and put it on a more competitive footing with other provinces.
Latest Statistics Canada figures reveal the province lost a cumulative 5,000-plus jobs over the past year, and total population is also on the decline, fuelled largely by migration to Alberta whose economy is in fine shape.
Despite this, many skilled jobs remain unfilled, and Saskatchewan's move to attract immigrants is a bid to rectify the situation. It has set itself a goal of recruiting 5,000 immigrants annually by 2008-09 - about two and a half times its current intake.
This is on top of the immigrant nominee program that was expanded late last year.
The province has announced an additional investment of $4.6 million to expand and develop its immigration strategy.
Provincial grants have also been provided to non-profit agencies that assist immigrants with language skills, job training and resettlement.
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