OTTAWA, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Friday announced new immigration plans that include reducing the immigrant landing fee and making it easier for newcomers to find employment.

    Speaking to an audience of new Canadians in Mississauga, Ontario province, Harper promised to follow up on his election pledge to slash the right of permanent residence fee from 975 Canadian dollars (878 U.S. dollars) to 490.

    Harper also announced an extra 300 million Canadian dollars (270 million U.S. dollars) in settlement funding over two years, which will include the setting up of an agency to assess and recognize foreign credentials aimed at providing newcomers with more job opportunities.

    "Everybody wins when newcomers bring their skills and values tothis country ... we need to make sure newcomers' skills, training and expertise are recognized and rewarded," Harper said.

    Canada admits more than 200,000 new immigrants every year. Yet newcomers' scholastic credentials are not recognized, and as a result, although some industries are urgently in need of workers, new immigrants find it hard to get the job opportunities with their foreign diplomas.

    Harper also revealed plans to make it easier for Canadian parents to adopt children born in foreign countries.

    The government is committed to streamlining the foreign adoption process, Harper said, adding that parents who adopt children outside of Canada face too many bureaucratic hurdles.

    In a separate development, Ottawa said Thursday it would issue temporary residence permits to immigrants who had been smuggled into the country to work in the sex industry and other trades.

    Police say between 600 and 800 people are smuggled into Canada each year, while a further 1,500 to 2,200 are trafficked through the country into the United States.

    Immigration Minister Monte Solburg said Thursday that victims would be given temporary residence permits valid for 120 days and would be eligible for health-care benefits.

    At the end of that period, they could either return to their home country or apply for another permit valid for up to five years. Enditem