Alberta: Minister of Immigration and Multiculturalism mandate letter
The Voice of Canada News:
Premier Danielle Smith has issued a mandate letter to Minister of Immigration and Multiculturalism Muhammad Yaseen calling on him to continue to grow opportunities for newcomers.
In her letter, the Premier outlines her expectations that Alberta continues to welcome the best and brightest from around the world and tasks Minister Yaseen with delivering on platform commitments that support and attract new Albertans, including:
- Working with the Minister of Advanced Education on increasing and accelerating auto-credentialing for workers from national and international jurisdictions with similar standards.
- As the lead, working with the Minister of Health to streamline immigration processes to support health care staffing challenges, particularly in rural areas.
- Working to maximize the nomination allocations made available annually to the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program by the federal government with opportunities for all sectors of the provincial economy to retain talented newcomers through the program’s worker and entrepreneur streams.
- As the lead, working with the Minister of Tourism and Sport to establish a dedicated tourism and hospitality immigration stream in Alberta.
- Ensuring enhanced funding for more effective engagement and promotion of Alberta’s ethnocultural communities.
- Ensuring newcomers have access to English as a Second Language training and settlement services.
- Working with federal agencies, continue to support settlement services for Ukrainian evacuees.
- Developing and passing anti-racism legislation to build on Alberta’s culture of inclusion, respect and celebration of our diverse cultural communities.
- Working with the Premier’s Council on Multiculturalism and Premier’s Office, to establish working councils to offer advice on addressing systemic barriers and challenges in Alberta’s diverse ethnocultural communities.
- Reviewing models from other jurisdictions to develop and implement legislation that permits Alberta’s cultural community members the flexibility to more easily observe major holidays without placing undue hardship or expense on Alberta businesses.
- Increasing access and enhancing funding opportunities for mentoring, labour attachment and other related labour market integration programs for immigrants and newcomers.
- Assisting each ministry to execute on their mandate to design a ministry-specific job-attraction strategy that includes raising awareness for new Albertans changing careers, along with their children, of the skilled trades and professions available in each economic sector, including pathways for education, apprenticeship and training.
“As our province continues to be a beacon for newcomers, we must make sure that the proper supports are in place for them for a successful transition into our society. I look forward to working with the many cultural communities of Alberta to ensure that we create the conditions for immigrants to be welcomed into our communities, fill labour shortages, start businesses, and create jobs.”Muhammad Yaseen, Minister of Immigration and Multiculturalism
