McCallum said his "top priority" is to reduce the processing times

[2008XF]

The minister was also asked about other immigration issues.

McCallum said his "top priority" is to reduce the processing times for Canadians who are sponsoring family members living abroad — and not just for those sponsoring spouses and common-law partners but also for those sponsoring parents and grandparents, children, and caregivers.

"It is unacceptable to ask spouses to wait typically 24 months before they are reunited."

ww w.cbc. ca/news/politics/mccallum-immigration-committee-tuesday-1.3455579

 

[sashali78]

ww w.cbc. ca/news/politics/mccallum-immigration-committee-tuesday-1.3455579

From what it looks the top priority of this government is to look good and compassionate on the international scene rather than solving real problems (even those of housing for the refugees they were so rushed to bring in). But what could you expect from the government led by an actor?
Stay tuned for more...

 

[canadausa#11]

One of their 'top priorities' that makes sense. The others being removing conditional PR (stupid) and doubling parents and grandparents applications (also nope)

 

[expectin]

ww w.cbc. ca/news/politics/mccallum-immigration-committee-tuesday-1.3455579

Immigration Minister John McCallum says the government will announce significant changes to the Citizenship Act in the coming days.

Mr. McCallum said Tuesday that the Liberals will soon follow through on their election pledge to repeal the Conservatives’ controversial Bill C-24, which gave the government the power to revoke Canadian citizenship from dual citizens convicted of terrorism, treason or espionage.

Asked when the changes will be unveiled, Mr. McCallum told The Globe and Mail to expect an announcement “in coming days, but not very many days.”

During last year’s election campaign, the Liberal platform committed to “repeal the unfair elements of Bill C-24 that create second-class citizens and the elements that make it more difficult for hard-working immigrants to become Canadian citizens.”

Mr. McCallum said the government’s announcement will make it impossible to revoke citizenship.

“A Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian,” Mr. McCallum said, repeating a line used by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during a heated election debate last September. “We would not revoke people’s citizenship. … That will certainly be a part of it [the announcement],” the Immigration Minister added.

Mr. McCallum said the government will also remove barriers to citizenship posed by Bill C-24.

“We believe that it’s better to make it easier rather than harder for people to become citizens.”

However, he did not say which specific barriers would be addressed.

One major point of contention in Bill C-24 was a provision stiffening language requirements for newcomers. Before the changes, those between the ages of 18 and 54 were required to meet language requirements in English or French and pass a Canadian knowledge test, for which they were allowed to seek the help of an interpreter. When the bill became law, the age range expanded to 14 to 64, and interpreters were no longer allowed to help.

The law also imposed a $300 application fee for adult citizenship applicants, up from $100, and made would-be Canadians wait longer to apply for citizenship.

Mr. McCallum told reporters Tuesday that the government will table its annual immigration report before March 9.

The report was supposed to be tabled by Nov. 1, but the fall election delayed its release. Since the House of Commons was not sitting on Nov. 1, the law requires the government to table the report within 30 sitting days of Parliament returning.

Mr. McCallum said the report will outline targets for all classes of immigrants, including Syrian refugees. While the minister has previously said the government hopes to settle a total of 35,000 to 50,000 Syrian refugees by the end of 2016, he said the exact number – “in that ballpark” – will be outlined in the immigration report. He added that the government is on track to reach its promise of resettling 25,000 Syrian refugees by the end of February.

 

[Mardek]

You need to understand that any of the changes related to spousal sponsorship will not affect people who already have applied.
This is all about politics and bureaucracy, and both take tremendous amount of time

 

[expectin]

You need to understand that any of the changes related to spousal sponsorship will not affect people who already have applied.
This is all about politics and bureaucracy, and both take tremendous amount of time

Not agree Mardek, just let wait that the plans of the liberals comes out, and thats going to be before March 9
Sunny ways my friend Sunny ways

 

[mega_option101]

You need to understand that any of the changes related to spousal sponsorship will not affect people who already have applied.
This is all about politics and bureaucracy, and both take tremendous amount of time

I know that they are already discussing a "re-shuffling" within the CIC of employees to work on Family Class Applications (instead of other areas, such as, study permits, etc.) - whether or not this pans out, is a whole other issue. You are correct in saying that it will take some time.

 

[Mardek]

This is my point though. By the time any of these changes could affect us, we already will likely get a DM

 

[unicornpants]

Mardek is right actually. In the discussions I've been having with my MP he mentioned these "changes" but even said to me that it'd be too late to help me.

The Liberals are not going to save your day. To be honest, even if it was the Conservatives neither would they.

 

[flx2015]

From what it looks the top priority of this government is to look good and compassionate on the international scene rather than solving real problems (even those of housing for the refugees they were so rushed to bring in). But what could you expect from the government led by an actor?

hey at least he has nice hair. whenever i'm depressed about being away from my wife, i just look at a picture of trudeau's hair and it makes everything alright again.

 

[expectin]

hey at least he has nice hair. whenever i'm depressed about being away from my wife, i just look at a picture of trudeau's hair and it makes everything alright again.

Minister McCallum to repeal parts of C-24

February 25, 2016 – Ottawa, ON –Today, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister John McCallum introduced legislation to amend the Citizenship Act, providing greater flexibility for applicants trying to meet the requirements for citizenship and help immigrants obtain citizenship faster.

"“The Government is keeping its commitment to repeal certain provisions of the Citizenship Act, including those that led to different treatment for dual citizens. Canadian citizens are equal under the law. Whether they were born in Canada or were naturalized in Canada or hold a dual citizenship,”" said Minister McCallum.

Among the changes, the Bill: An Act to Amend the Citizenship Act, would repeal provisions that allow citizenship to be revoked from dual citizens who engage in certain acts against the national interest. All Canadians who commit crimes should face the consequences of their actions through the Canadian justice system.

The Bill also proposes to reduce the time permanent residents must be physically present in Canada before qualifying for citizenship by a full year. Recognizing that immigrants often build an attachment to Canada before becoming permanent residents, the proposed legislation would credit applicants for the time spent in Canada as temporary residents or protected persons.

The age range to meet French or English language requirements and pass a knowledge test to qualify for citizenship, would change to 18-54 from 14-64. The changes support our goal of removing barriers for immigrants to build successful lives in Canada.

STILL NOT A WORD ABOUT THE FAMILY REUNIFICATION PLAN THAT THE MINISTER SAYD WOULD BE PLANIN FOR THE NEXT COMING YEARS.

 

[unicornpants]

hey at least he has nice hair. whenever i'm depressed about being away from my wife, i just look at a picture of trudeau's hair and it makes everything alright again.

LOL ;D

 

[expectin]

Mr. McCallum, whose riding has the third-highest percentage of visible minority population at 82 per cent, said that he finds it “abominable” that it takes almost two years for the spousal immigration applications to be processed, and after arriving in Canada, another two years to receive permanent-resident status. He said that his department is working on coming up with plans to speed up the application processing times. Mr. McCallum did not offer a specific target timeframe for reducing the application processing times, but said that it will be brought down “radically.”

The sourse : The Hill Times.