informative speech by Chris Alexander, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration...Canada's immigration policies: Outlook on Immigration and Future Policy
Thanks to a number of measures we've taken since coming into office, that backlog has fallen now to 62,000 — one-tenth of the peak amount. And it continues to fall sharply as we retain our determination to manage intakes, process inventories and keep the time required to process applications as short as possible. So that's a 90 per cent reduction in five years. It positions Canada in this flagship program to be a global leader in economic growth and stability today as well as into the future.
We are in continuous discussion with the provinces, along with territories and employers across both the provinces and the territories to create what we are calling – for now – an Expression of Interest, or EOI, system for economic immigration to Canada.
Now don't count on the “EOI” title remaining. This program probably needs rebranding. Acronyms are not exactly catchy. And the person who has the right label for this program may actually be sitting in this room. If so, please make your suggestion afterwards.
But the intent is already clear. The goal of this new system will be vitally important. It's the culmination of the transformational changes I've been describing. It represents a new way of managing immigration applications that will create a new pool, a vast pool, of skilled workers ready to become permanent residents and to begin their employment, to hit the ground running, as labour market needs arise.
Our goal is to have this system in place by New Year's Day 2015, 15-and-a-half months away.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/speeches/2013/2013-09-26.asp
Thanks to a number of measures we've taken since coming into office, that backlog has fallen now to 62,000 — one-tenth of the peak amount. And it continues to fall sharply as we retain our determination to manage intakes, process inventories and keep the time required to process applications as short as possible. So that's a 90 per cent reduction in five years. It positions Canada in this flagship program to be a global leader in economic growth and stability today as well as into the future.
We are in continuous discussion with the provinces, along with territories and employers across both the provinces and the territories to create what we are calling – for now – an Expression of Interest, or EOI, system for economic immigration to Canada.
Now don't count on the “EOI” title remaining. This program probably needs rebranding. Acronyms are not exactly catchy. And the person who has the right label for this program may actually be sitting in this room. If so, please make your suggestion afterwards.
But the intent is already clear. The goal of this new system will be vitally important. It's the culmination of the transformational changes I've been describing. It represents a new way of managing immigration applications that will create a new pool, a vast pool, of skilled workers ready to become permanent residents and to begin their employment, to hit the ground running, as labour market needs arise.
Our goal is to have this system in place by New Year's Day 2015, 15-and-a-half months away.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/speeches/2013/2013-09-26.asp