More than 1.3 million immigration applications still in backlog

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OTTAWA — Canada’s immigration minister now initiatives it would take just a few months longer than initially hoped to get utility wait occasions again on observe, regardless that the disaster in Ukraine and different “exterior” occasions have worsened the backlogs.

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In January, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser vowed to get rid of backlogs brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic by the tip of the 12 months. That was earlier than Canada launched a significant response to the refugee disaster sparked by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and accredited lots of of hundreds of Ukrainians and their households to come back to Canada briefly to flee the warfare.

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These efforts, mixed with updates to the federal government’s getting old expertise, have led to longer waits for individuals who need to come to Canada, Fraser stated.

As of the tip of July, roughly 1.3 million immigration purposes within the system have taken longer to course of than the federal government’s service requirements dictate they need to. That’s about 54 per cent of all of the pending purposes within the system.

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In an interview with The Canadian Press, Fraser stated the division may have just a few further months earlier than all immigration streams are again to regular processing occasions.

“Based mostly on what we’re taking a look at proper now, we shouldn’t be too, too far off the projection of getting again to service requirements for work and examine permits by the tip of this 12 months, and I anticipate that inside just a few months of that the guests visas will probably be again to service requirements,” Fraser stated.

That’s barring any new worldwide disasters, he stated.

NDP Immigration critic Jenny Kwan stated the minister’s optimism is of little consolation to individuals who have spent months and even years languishing within the system.

“I discover it astounding that the minister would discuss glowingly concerning the work that he’s doing, in the meantime, there’s so many people who find themselves struggling, who’re struggling because of immigration processing delays,” Kwan stated in an interview.

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She wrote a joint letter with NDP Chief Jagmeet Singh to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to precise their issues concerning the “utter chaos” at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Fraser stated the Canadian immigration system is seeing unprecedented demand, along with humanitarian crises.

As of July 31, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada had issued greater than 349,000 new work permits this 12 months, in comparison with 199,000 in all of 2021.

At a information convention Wednesday, Fraser introduced the Immigration Division is within the midst of a hiring spree to deliver 1,250 new workers on board by the tip of the autumn to sort out the huge backlogs in processing purposes and the elevated demand.

Fraser stated the brand new hires have to date allowed the federal government to get wait occasions again on observe for brand new candidates to the specific entry everlasting residence program, the principle financial stream for brand new everlasting residents to Canada.

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“Within the weeks and months forward there’s going to be a sequence of latest measures that we’re going to be releasing that’s going to assist deliver staff right here extra shortly, make it easier for households to be reunited with their family members, and to carry ourselves accountable by being clear,” Fraser stated on the information convention outdoors the Vancouver Conference Centre.

The backlogs have been of rising concern since shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic started, when well being restrictions made borders tougher to cross and immigration slowed significantly.

On the finish of final 12 months, the federal government devoted $85 million to decreasing wait occasions. One other $187.3 million was put aside for the subsequent 5 years within the 2022 funds.

In June, the prime minister introduced ministers would type a activity drive to take care of rising delays for immigration purposes and different authorities companies.

Conservative immigration critic Jasraj Singh Hallan says he has little religion the added sources will translate into significant change.

“That is the Liberal sample, throw more cash at an issue, create a bloated public service costing taxpayers extra, and get no outcomes,” Hallan stated in an announcement.

“Newcomers, Canadians, and companies deserve higher than Liberal-made backlogs and extra empty guarantees.”