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SAM Magazine - Whistler, B.C., October 9, 2007 - As anyone who has skied Whistler in the past decade knows, the ski resort relies on an annual influx from Down Under. If any evidence is needed, look no further than the raucous celebrations on Australia Day, where the town - and the bars - are taken over by people with funny accents and an affinity for kangaroos.

The influx is expected to continue. While resorts south of the border in the U.S. face restrictions on visas, restrictions that will severely impact their ability to hire foreign workers, the Canadian government has loosened restrictions on Australians who want to work in Whistler this winter.

The relaxation in terms for Australian visas includes expanded holiday visas from one to two years, and an increase in the cap on visas given to Aussies each year. Currently more than 2,000 Australians work in Whistler each winter. The Canadian government has also streamlined the process for hiring seasonal workers such as ski instructors or patrollers. Prior to the changes, employers had to prove that they had diligently searched nationwide for Canadians to fill those jobs. Under the new program, employers can expect to obtain a decision from the government on issuing temporary work visas within a week. \