Canada has launched a campaign to attract 100,000 new citizens in an appeal reminiscent of the great colonial migrations of the middle of the 20th century.
Workers and their families from scientists and machinists to doctors and carers are being urged to move to the province of Alberta to help cope with the demand for jobs fuelled by the oil boom. Canada already takes in about 250,000 immigrants a year -- about 1 percent of the population -- but the opening of massive oil sands in the western province means that even that boost cannot meet surging demand for specialist and support jobs.
more people
Alberta, the self-styled "home of the Canadian Rockies," estimates it needs another 400,000 people over the next few years, of which more than a quarter will need to be incomers, said Iris Evans, Alberta's minister of employment, immigration and industry, who visited London last week to drum up interest from migrants and investors.
As well as the UK, Evans is also hoping to attract interest from around the world, including France, Germany and the Philippines. Most workers will need to speak English or French and will undergo medical and security "screening."
cold
But as well as ready jobs and Canada's strongest local economy, Alberta is also rugged and often cold -- appealing to some, but a massive change of lifestyle for others. There have also been concerns about whether rising costs and a future dip in oil prices might leave the oil sands less viable, making a move there more risky.
Evans dismissed these concerns, saying Canada's labor costs were still at the "medium to low end" internationally.
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