Canada woos skilled British workers

LONDON, July 1 (UPI) -- Officials from the Canadian province of Alberta are in Britain, trying to lure as many as 50,000 skilled workers to emigrate on fast-tracked visas.

Alberta's Minister of Employment and Immigration Hector Goudreau spent a week using money as the principal lure, The Telegraph reported Tuesday.

"Somebody from London might be able to sell their small flat and come to Alberta where they can buy a detached house with a huge back yard and huge front yard for the same amount," Goudreau said. "The cost of living is considerably less than in (Britain). Our salaries are comparable or even higher, so anyone who moves over would be able to make money and set some aside."

Goudreau also spoke of Alberta being unique among other provinces as there is no sales tax on goods because of revenue from the burgeoning oil industry.

Alberta is hoping to recruit family doctors, teachers, nurses, electricians, carpenters, engineers, construction workers, management consultants, and cardiac and diabetic specialists, the report said.