Alberta - Wild Rose Country

The Basics

Alberta is the westernmost of Canada’s three Prairie Provinces. Often known as Canada's "energy province,” Alberta is home to over 3.3 million people, and growing quickly. The bulk of this population resides in Alberta’s two largest cities; Edmonton (which serves as the provincial capital) and Calgary each have a population of over 1 million residents. Alberta is a world leader in the oil and gas industry but is also home to a vibrant and fast-growing industrial and service economy. Thanks to the opportunities provided by this economic growth, Alberta has become one of the top destinations for immigration to Canada. Today Alberta is arguably Canada’s most prosperous province, and is recognized world-wide for its high standard of living.

Alberta Economy and Employment

After over a decade of high growth rates, Alberta remains filled with potential for further economic expansion. Alberta’s economy is driven by its booming energy industry, a major employer in the province. The energy industry accounts for over 275 000 jobs in the province both directly and indirectly. This sector is expected to grow even further as technological advances allow the development of the oil sands in the north of the province. Alberta’s high rate of economic growth is not limited however to the energy industry, as the province boasts a diversified economy. Alberta’s manufacturing sector has doubled in size in the last decade, and innovation is spurring new industries that make Alberta a strong competitor in global markets. Beyond oil and gas forestry remains an important industry, worth over $4 billion annually. Alberta has also traditionally been home to large farming and ranching industries, which remain an important part of the province’s culture and economy.

With the rapid pace of economic development in the province, Alberta is a great place to find work in Canada. Alberta enjoys the lowest unemployment rate in Canada at 3.9%, well below the national average of 6.8%. When this low unemployment rate is combined with low natural population growth and record-setting numbers for job creation, the result is that there are many job opportunities available for immigrants in the province. In recent years the province has increased the number of permanent resident immigrants as well as temporary foreign workers living and working in the province, yet the unemployment rate continues to decline. International surveys consistently rank Calgary and Edmonton among the top cities in the world to work. On top of the availability of jobs, people enjoy working in Alberta thanks to its high standard of living.

Alberta Standard of Living

Thanks to low levels of unemployment and high demand for workers, Alberta’s average wage and salary rates are highly competitive with the rest of Canada. The minimum wage in Alberta approaches the Canadian average at 7.00$/hr. Most noteworthy, Albertan families have the highest average combined income in Canada at approximately 61 000$/yr.

Albertans also have the lowest personal taxes in Canada, thanks to the wealth of natural resources. Based on a two-income family with two children, earning an income of 60 000$, Albertans pay $3,583 less in taxes than residents of Newfoundland and Labrador and $990 less than residents of Ontario. Alberta's personal tax advantage results from a low single rate tax system, including the highest basic and spousal exemptions in the country, no general sales tax, the lowest gasoline tax rate among the provinces, and low property taxes. What this all translates to is more income remaining for families to spend on living expenses.

Alberta enjoys a very low crime rate that makes its cities and towns pleasant places to live and safe to raise a family. In addition, the province’s natural beauty, including vast forests and the Rocky Mountains contribute to a desirable living environment. The standard of living in Alberta is one of the most important factors in attracting immigrants to the province.

Alberta Residential Housing

Alberta has one of the more affordable housing markets for major cities in Canada. Although the high rate of migration to the province as well as increased incomes for Alberta residents has created a surge of demand that has brought a rise in prices, the province remains an affordable place to buy or rent housing. With home builders putting up new homes at a fast pace, housing costs are expected to decline in the next few years.

The average house price in Alberta is approximately 38% to 48% less than in Toronto and Vancouver. (Edmonton: 179, 610 $; Calgary: 222 860$). Overall, the percentage of household income taken up by housing costs is below the Canadian average, varying between 18-28% depending on the type of accommodation. For more information on finding a place to live when you move to Alberta, this Government of Alberta site is rich in information for buying or renting homes.

Alberta Education

Alberta has a renowned education system, from kindergarten right through to its universities, which produce world-leading research. In Canada, all citizens and permanent residents under the age of 20 are entitled to free education through the end of high school through the public school system. When you move to Alberta, your children will have a choice of a several different schooling options, all funded by tax dollars and without fees. Aside from the main public school system, there are also francophone schools for education in French, as well as a Catholic school system. At the cutting edge, Alberta also has online/virtual education programs as well as alternative schools available as educational options. Some in the province elect to send their children to private schools, however the vast majority use the public schools which are of high quality.

Alberta’s publicly funded postsecondary education system has a total of 24 institutions, including four universities with over 104,500 full- and part-time students in total. The province’s per student and per capita spending on basic education continues to be among the highest in Canada.

Albertans pay on average 5000$ per year on tuition for post-secondary education. This rate is among the highest in Canada. However the Government of Alberta has several programs in place to help ease the burden and to help you save for your child’s education after they complete high school. In 2005, the Alberta Centennial Education Plan was launched. The plan will contribute $500 to the Registered Education Savings Plan of every child born to Alberta residents in 2005 and beyond. The program is designed to give parents an incentive to start planning and saving for their child’s post-secondary education as early as possible. In 2004, total assistance to Alberta students was about $439 million,

Alberta Health Care

Under Canadian Law, all provinces and territories must provide universal, publicly funded health care to all citizens and legal residents of Canada. In other words, most basic health services in Canada are offered at no direct cost to the patient. Certain procedures that are not deemed necessary (such as elective cosmetic surgery and a number of dental care procedures, for example) are generally not covered, but the list of services paid for publicly varies from province to province. Alberta, like the rest of Canada, has universal, publicly funded health care. Approximately 3500$ per capita is spent each year on health care in the province, which is among the highest in Canada.

Alberta History

Alberta joined Canadian confederation as a separate province in 1905. The province is named after the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria. Before it gained provincial status, Alberta had been governed as a region of the North-West territories. Until 1868 the province’s territory, along with other large portions of what today makes up Canada were controlled by the Hudson’s Bay Company of Canada.

Before the arrival of European settlers in the 1700’s the indigenous First Nations of Alberta inhabited the area for over 8000 years. Many of these indigenous peoples were displaced by European settlement of the area, however indigenous communities remain and are an important part of Albertan history.

Alberta entered Canadian confederation as a province along with its neighbour to the East, Saskatchewan, in 1905. In its early history Alberta was mostly a province of farmers, along with some mining. The province was hit hard by the depression of the 1920’s but recovered with some strong government intervention. The oil and gas boom which continues to benefit the province today began in 1947. Thanks to the prosperity from this natural wealth, Alberta was able to invest in its economy and education to create the strong and diverse modern economy found in the province today.

Alberta Culture

Alberta has a unique and vibrant culture that has been shaped by immigrants that have settled in the province. Throughout the province but especially in the major cities of Calgary and Edmonton, one can find the culture, cuisine, music and arts of communities from all over the world. One example of this immigrant culture on display is Calgary’s Carifest, an annual celebration of Caribbean culture in the province.

Thanks to the fusion of all of these communities’ cultures, Alberta’s cities are cosmopolitan in their own right. In 1988, Calgary was on display to the whole world when they hosted the Olympic Winter Games. Edmonton is known for its excellent festivals, especially the Edmonton Fringe Festival, the second largest of its kind in the world after the one in Edinburgh. Edmonton is also known for the West-Edmonton mall, the largest indoor shopping mall in the world.

Alberta’s culture also retains a degree of influence from its history of frontier settlement and traditional farming. The greatest example of this “cowboy culture” is the Calgary Stampede, the annual summer festival that features such events as bull-roping and rodeos. The Stampede itself and the celebrations that surround it draw over 1.2 million visitors each year.

Alberta Demographics

Alberta is home to over 3.3 million people, approximately one tenth of the total population of Canada. About two thirds of this population is centered in the province’s two biggest cities, with just over 1 million living in each of the Calgary and Edmonton metropolitan areas. After these cities, significant population centers include Red Deer (83000), Lethbridge (75000), Medicine Hat (57000) and Grand Prairie(47000). In total over 80% of the province’s population lives in urban areas.

Immigration has played a crucial role in shaping the makeup of Alberta. As a result of larger waves of immigration earlier in the province’s development a large proportion of the province’s residents identify heritage from Great Britain, Germany, Ireland, Ukraine, and France. Alberta also has large communities of South Asian and Chinese heritage. As immigration to Alberta today reaches some of its highest levels ever, the province continues to become more and more diverse.

The majority of Albertans identify as Christian. The province however is largely secular, with over 44% of residents reporting in the most recent census that they had not attended a place of worship in the past year. Alberta is also home to many people of the Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Jewish and Buddhist faiths. In fact, Edmonton is home to the oldest Mosque in North America.

Alberta Immigration

Alberta is one of the most popular destinations today for immigrants to Canada thanks to its quality of life and economic opportunities. According to an agreement with the Government of Canada signed in May 2007, the province will play an increased role in selecting immigrants who will settle in the province. While the exact form that this role will take remains to be determined, the Alberta Ministry of Employment Immigration and Industry is expected to have greater involvement in decision-making when it comes to attracting immigrants and nominating for immigration individuals who possess skills that are needed in Alberta.

Alberta Government

Canada’s government works on a federal system, with control over certain affairs belonging to the national government in Ottawa, and others under the control of the provincial governments. The province of Alberta has its own democratically-elected parliament (known as the Alberta Legislative Assembly) which is found in the provincial capital of Edmonton. The current government of the province is led by the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta, headed by Premier Ed Stelmach who was sworn into office in December of 2006. Premier Stelmach replaced former Premier Ralph Klein, who stepped down between elections after leading Alberta for over 10 years. As with any Canadian province, Alberta has wide control over its health, education and other services. Thanks to the natural resource wealth in the province, the Government of Alberta is able to provide high quality services while collecting the lowest levels of taxes in Canada.

The Major Cities

Calgary

Calgary is the largest city in Alberta and the fifth largest metropolitan area in Canada. It is also one of the fastest-growing ones, growing by nearly 16% between 1996 and 2001. The city is home to a diverse multi-cultural array of residents. While the majority of Calgarians identify with European heritage, people from all over the world live in Calgary. Some notably large communities are the Chinese-Canadian population (6% of Calgary) and the South Asian population (4.2%). The Aboriginal, Filipino and Latin American communities in the city are also sizable, vibrant and growing.

The economy of the city is centered around the petroleum industry, financial institutions and high-technology industries. Some of the major companies headquartered in the city include Canadian Pacific Railway, Imperial Oil, EnCana and Petro-Canada. As the city continues to grow, more and more major multinational companies are setting up offices in the city, marking the increasing significance of Calgary in the world economy.

Calgary is recognized worldwide for its combination of quality of life with economic growth. A 2007 survey by Forbes Magazine ranked Calgary as the cleanest city in the world, while surveys by Mercer Consulting, and by The Economist have ranked the city very highly in quality of life (25th and 10th in the world respectively). The cosmopolitan city has a multicultural flair and played host to the 1988 Winter Olympic Games These impressive credentials continue to draw newcomers to the city each year.

Edmonton

Edmonton is the capital of the Province of Alberta, and the sixth largest city in Canada, just slightly smaller than neighboring Calgary. While the city is home to over 1 million people, the city has a very low population density, covering 684 square kilometers. This large land area provides the city with a large amount of green space, a major attraction of the city. Edmonton’s river valley is over 20 times the size of New York’s central park.

While the population of Edmonton was under 10000 when it became the capital of the new province of Alberta in 1905, it has grown steadily since the oil boom began in the late 1940’s. While the city experienced a recession through the 1980’s and early 1990’s, the last decade has been a period of growth and renewal for the city. Today the city is a strong industrial hub, with companies such as IBM, TELUS, Dell and General Electric locating major offices there thanks to its reputation as one of Canada’s top centers for research.

Americans say Canadian border is tightening for those with minor criminal past

Past indiscretions are coming back to haunt thousands of American travelers heading north as Canadian border guards use improved technology to screen for criminal records. The sharing of computerized information and increased vigilance since Sept. 11, 2001, have led more than 18,000 U.S. citizens with criminal records to be turned away since 2003. The records often date back to the distant past for offences like marijuana possession, assault and impaired driving. The Canada Border Services Agency says the number of so-called "turn-backs" from the border has declined gradually in recent years.

Some 3,430 people were turned away among 28.9 million visitors in 2006, compared with 5,876 who were denied entry among 35.5 million visitors in 2003. But immigration lawyers operating on both sides of the border maintain they've seen a recent spike in complaints from rejected Americans. "There is a net that has been cast that is catching all these minnows," said David Cohen, a Montreal-based immigration lawyer.

Randy Kutter, a firefighter from Princeton, Minn., who loves to fish Canadian waters, was convicted of driving under the influence in 1981 and 1986. Canadian authorities suddenly told him in 2006 he was no longer welcome in Canada, despite the fact he'd crossed the border at least 100 times since his last arrest. He started a process to be declared rehabilitated by Canada, only to discover it was impossible because original documents attached to his 20-year-old record had long been destroyed. "My situation is really frustrating," Kutter said in an interview. "I really respect your laws, and I really like to fish up there. The situation doesn't seem fair or necessary."

The 49-year-old has been back to Canada three times since he was declared inadmissible, paying $245 for a special visa on the first visit and relying on Canadian border guards to look the other way on two other occasions. He suspects he'll be red-flagged any day now, and his days of fishing in Manitoba and Ontario will be over. Kutter, who was 22 and 27 when he was convicted, says he is a different man from the young party animal who got in trouble in the 1980s. "The second one really got my attention," he said. "I rode the bus and my bicycle to my first date with my wife. I take it all very seriously now."

Cohen and other lawyers say they receive frequent inquiries from Americans with minor records who wonder what they have to do to get back into Canada. Many had traveled to Canada for years without a problem. Cohen has received calls from professional athletes, airline pilots and truckers who were suddenly turned away. Cohen says 90 per cent of his calls are related to driving under the influence of alcohol, a crime that is treated as a misdemeanor in many U.S. states but is taken more seriously here.

Chris Williams of the CBSA pointed to the declining "turnback" statistics and said there is no crackdown. "The laws haven't changed, each traveler is processed on a case-by-case basis, based on information they provide and information available to each officer," said Williams. With the number of U.S. visitors plummeting from a high of 44 million in 2000 to 28.9 million in 2006, Toronto immigration lawyer Sergio Karas says the growing buzz about tough Canadian borders threatens to dampen tourism further. "Some people who face the problem find a way around it, particularly when it involves their work," said Karas, the chair of the immigration section of the Ontario Bar Association. "But there's a lot who say, 'To heck with it, I don't need to go to Canada."'

Detroit immigration lawyer Enrico Caruso tells of an American lawyer with a practice in Toronto who was turned back at the border because he was busted in his youth for scalping Detroit Red Wings tickets. "The laws have not changed but there have been major changes in technology," said Caruso, who practices in Canada and the United States. "Their databases are syncing up really well, so they see a lot more information on their computers." But Caruso says visitors travelling in both directions face more questions crossing the border. "The political climate on both sides says you need to toughen up your borders," Caruso said. "When you have that, absolutely, they have to step up their diligence."

Visitors from the United States with minor criminal records dating back years can often obtain waivers from Canadian authorities that "rehabilitate" them and allow them to enter the country. The process is reasonably simple but requires time and a paper chase, immigration experts say. Karas' clients include a rock star who "was big in the 1980s but still draws a crowd" who was barred at the border for a reckless driving conviction eight years ago. Karas said a trucker with an assault record from a bar brawl and a company executive who was found at fault for a fatal vehicle accident in the 1980s are also on his client list. "This isn't just one segment of the population, the range of people who have this problem is huge."

Canada, geographically speaking

Canada is the most northerly country of the Americas and the second largest country in the world. It borders the Atlantic Ocean to the east, the Pacific Ocean on the west, the Arctic Ocean to the north and the United States of America (USA) on the South. It spans a total area that covers almost ten million square kilometers (9,984,670 sq km). 

To put it into clear perspective, Canada could contain 18 countries the size of France or 40 United Kingdoms (UK), and has six time zones. Canada also has the longest coastline of any country.Canada is a mosaic of regions from the rugged mountains of the West, to the farm communities of the prairies, to the Industrial and political powerhouse of Ontario, to the modern French culture of Québec, to the quaint fishing communities of the east coast, and everything in between. The beauty and diversity of Canada are proud icons of what Canada has become.Most of the country is made up of plains, with mountains in the west and prairies in the southeast. 

Approximately 90 per cent of the over 31 million people living in Canada are located within 160 km of the US border and about 75% of the total population lives in major cities or towns. There are more lakes and inland waters in Canada than in any other country. There are over 2 million lakes in Canada which translates into 7.6% (755,180 sq km) of fresh water.Canada is divided into 10 provinces and 3 territories. The north most part of Canada extends into the frigid Arctic Circle, while the furthermost southern parts stretch below the US border. 

Canada and the United States share many geographic characteristics in common such as the Rocky Mountains, four of the Great Lakes, the Appalachian Highlands, and various rivers.Canada has a boreal climate. Winters are cold with average temperatures ranging between -2.5oC and -10oC and summers are relatively warm by comparison, with temperatures ranging between 16oC and 28oC in the southern regions. Canadian temperature has climbed up to a scorching 35 degrees Celsius in the summer and has descended to a glacial -25 degrees Celsius during winter.

British Columbia receives the most temperate climate in all of Canada. It rarely snows in the low-lying areas, and the Coastal Range and the Rocky Mountains prevent the Pacific air from traveling to the Prairies. The Canadian Prairies traverse east from the Rocky Mountains all the way to the Great Lakes. Farming is a major industry in this part of the Country. Cold winters and muggy, hot, summers are common. 

Ample spring rainfalls and clement autumns make the Prairies one of the top grain-growing areas of the world.More than half of Canada's population lives near the Great Lakes or along the St. Lawrence River. Winter is very snowy and wind-chilled, while summers are humid and longer than anywhere else in Canada. There's enough rainfall to sufficiently sustain the region's sizable farm industry.This territory is quite inclement and has one of the most capricious weather systems anywhere in the country. In winter, temperatures can vary tempestuously as the Arctic's breath is replaced by maritime air from cursory storms. Snowfall is relatively strong, and fog is frequently present in spring and at the beginning of the short summer season. July is the warmest month of the year and averages temperatures between 16 to 21 degrees Celsius.

North of the Prairies and the St. Lawrence is an expansive hyperborean forest. This area is snow-capped most of the year, and summer lingers for approximately two months. Above the tree-line lies the Arctic. Temperatures there rise above freezing only for a few weeks a year, and the ground is permanently frozen.

American Green Card vs Canadian Permanent Resident Card

Canada Green Card is a term that is used figuratively to describe Permanent Residency in Canada.Officially however, a green card is uniquely American and is the popular name for a United States Permanent Resident Card. An American green card which, by the way, has not been printed on green paper since 1977, gives its holder permission to live and work in the United States.Instead of a Canada green card, Permanent Residents of Canada have the right to a Canada Permanent Resident Card as proof of their Canada immigration status.

Though you may be thinking that the distinction is only a question of semantics, there is a significant difference in the philosophies behind the issuance of a United States green card and a Canada Permanent Resident Card. Here’s the distinction: An American green card grants the holder the permission to enter and live in the United States. In contrast, Canada Permanent Resident status grants an individual the right to enter and live in Canada. In the context of immigration status, having permission and having the right are two very distinct claims.

Permission is akin to a privilege and, in the case of a green card, the privilege is granted by the U.S. government, speaking for the American people. A right is something more - it is a legal entitlement. It is inherent to the holder. True, both privileges and rights have limits and both may be revoked under certain circumstances, but that is not to say that they confer equal status. A simple example demonstrates this point. Permanent Residents of the United States must be in possession of their U.S green cards at all times and must be prepared to show them to U.S. authorities upon request. Canada Permanent Residents have no such obligation. Not only do they not have to carry around their Canada Permanent Resident Card, they are not even required to apply for the card.

Though useful to have, a Canada Permanent Resident Card is purely voluntary. The difference between United States and Canada Permanent Residency is really about attitudes and conceptions - how residents are viewed by their fellow countrymen. More importantly, however, the distinction between having permission and having the right to live in the United States or Canada can shape personal perceptions - how one sees oneself in the mirror - as Permanent Residents contemplate their place in society. Canada Permanent Residency is much more than a Canada green card...it is a fundamental entitlement.

Recent news from Immigration Canada

I recently found this article, its a few months old but i think its worth sharing

If you have been contemplating immigration to Canada, you would be wise to submit your application as soon as possible. Citing economic uncertainty and rising unemployment numbers in the country, Canadian Immigration Minister Jason Kenney has announced that Canada is considering reducing its immigration targets for 2009.

At the present time, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Canada (CIMC) plans to maintain its 2009 immigration numbers of between 240,000 to 265,000 new Permanent Residents. This makes it one of the only developed nations that has not contracted its immigration plans in the face of current global economic turmoil.
However, that may change by the end of March, once Minister Kenney meets with federal, provincial, and territorial officials to review economic data and to determine if modifications to immigration levels are needed.

“We don’t want people coming to Canada and facing unemployment. We need to be sensitive to the changing labour market, and if we need to make modifications, we will,” stated Minister Kenney.
Taking a longer-term perspective, he has expressed his preference to maintain current levels, noting that immigrants will be greatly needed to help fuel Canada’s economic growth once the economy turns around.

“We need to be flexible, prudent and ensure that our response to short-term conditions does not counter out long-term goals, in which immigration will play a significant role,” he said. “We don’t want to turn off the tap of the future growth that is represented by immigration.”
The Immigration Minister has the authority to make changes to the immigration selection system without any advance warning. In this case, he has signaled that an imminent reduction of immigration targets is a real possibility.

If you would like to immigrate to Canada, you should take the Immigration Minister’s words seriously. Now is the time to submit your Canadian immigration application. After the Immigration Minister’s meeting at the end of March, it may become more difficult for you to qualify or it may take you longer to realize your plans to come live and work in Canada.

Amidst the economic downturn, there are still hot spots for jobs in Canada

Though Canada has been less affected by the global economic downturn than the United States and other OECD nations, the national unemployment rate has increased slightly over the past several months. This has prompted Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to review immigration numbers to ensure that there will be enough jobs for newcomers once they arrive. Despite these trends, certain regions in Canada remain hot spots for jobs, where regional employers continue to seek skilled foreign workers to meet chronic labour gaps. Notably, the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Manitoba are still experiencing skills shortages and continue to recruit foreign workers to alleviate them.

The January unemployment rates for Saskatchewan and Alberta came in at 4.1 per cent and 4.4 per cent respectfully; both under Alberta Employment and Immigration’s ‘balanced labour market’ rate of 5 per cent. Though these provinces have been impacted by current economic events, economists claim that they have been faring much better than other regions - some saying that the job market in Alberta remains among the best in North America.

Indeed, for many years Alberta has been recruiting foreign workers and Canadians from other regions to try to keep pace with the rapid job creation in the province. The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) has been very effective at welcoming skilled foreign workers, and is constantly evolving to reflect current conditions. Its Strategic Recruitment Stream for US H1B holders (for which candidates do not need a job offer) has recently been reworked to welcome applicants with experience in new occupations, such as industrial designers, database analysts and web developers.

Alberta’s two major cities, Calgary and Edmonton, recorded very low unemployment rates last month, at 4.1 and 3.8 per cent respectively. The areas of the province with the lowest unemployment rates were the Camrose-Drumheller region at 3.1 per cent and the Medicine Hat-Lethbridge region at 4 per cent.

Skills shortages also persist in Manitoba, where the provincial Immigration Minister is looking to offer jobs to skilled foreign workers in biotechnology, healthcare, information technology, social services, and geothermal energy. Temporary foreign workers in these industries may eventually be able to qualify for fast-track Canadian Permanent Residency under Manitoba’s Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

For those deciding where to live when immigrating to Canada, the take-home message from this is simple: To maximize your chances for finding work in Canada, keep an open mind and consider choosing a region where unemployment is low and where your particular skills are in high demand.