The Canadian government has launched a campaign that aims to attract 100,000 new citizens to deal with the mass demand for jobs that has come as a result of an oil boom.

In an appeal reminiscent of the great colonial migration of the twentieth century, professionals from various fields of employment, including mechanists, scientists and medical workers are being actively recruited to the province of Alberta, where massive oil sands have recently been discovered.

The provincial government of Alberta estimates that it will need to recruit roughly 400,000 foreign workers by 2010, a quarter of which will need to come from abroad, as local workers simply would not be able do cater for the project purely due to numbers.

Canada is predominantly looking to attract workers from the UK, however, recruitment drives will also be aimed at France, Germany, the Philippines and other countries around the world. Workers will be required to speak either English or French and will be subject to screening for medical purposes.