OTTAWA, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- The Canadian government plans to increase immigration to 300,000 new residents a year, the Toronto Globe and Mail reported.
Citing government sources, the newspaper said the government is working on a proposal that includes seeking immigrants with trade skills -- such as pipe fitters and truck drivers. Other plans include recruiting immigrants willing to live outside major cities and encouraging graduate students and other foreigners living in Canada to remain in the country.
Prime Minister Paul Martin in a speech on Tuesday promised to increase immigration, which has been part of the Liberal program since the party came to power in 1993. Immigration Minister Joe Volpe told the newspaper he does have a plan to be discussed by the cabinet in October.
