Sean Fraser and other task force ministers revealed before the Canadians and immigrants on the government’s strategies. These strategies are essential to enhance the immigration system, particularly its backlog condition. The task force was initially created in June, and Fraser was an official member of the task force. It was developed so that people didn’t have to wait for long for immigration services concerning documents and passports.
The task force members held regular meetings in which they talked at length about the developments taking place in the immigration system. Recently, at a press conference, they held a detailed discussion on the recent measures taken to improve the immigration backlog. The pause in pandemic-related restrictions caused a significant rise in the demand for travel and immigration. The task force sought effective solutions for short- and long-term goals.
IRCC’s initiatives
Canada, with the help of IRCC, has taken several initiatives to improve the immigration system and reduce the backlog. The department has taken the following initiatives:
- New employees will be hired in October to increase the number of staff members to speed up the processing time. The estimated figure for employees accounts for 1,250.
- Bringing modernity to how IRCC functions makes the Canadian immigration system more sustainable.
- The target is to welcome more than 300,000 new permanent residents onwards August 22.
- Last year 112,000 new work permits were issued. However, the target has increased this year to more than 349,000 new work permits between July and January.
- Target will approve at least 216,000 applications between March and August 2022 under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel. The target is an initiative to provide family members with as much support as possible to secure them in Canada.
- Another interesting measure is to introduce a tacker for the application status concerning citizenship. Even the permanent residents will be able to access the information within the time their files. However, this system will further progress with more number of applicants next year.
- IRCC website will display monthly data to update Canadians on the level of progress in the system.
The need for targets and investments
The targets and the addition of 1,250 employees imply the effort to further improve the immigration system by reducing the backlog. Fraser claimed that the government is looking forward to improving the online system and keeping up with the promises made to Canadians. He even stated the intention to retain skilled workers and lessen the waiting times. They will continue working for the communities to access the skilled individuals they require for their progress.
The latest update claims that IRCC processed over 1.7 million applications in all business fields. It is even stated that the department manages around 1 million applications at any point in time. The latest report on the IRCC webpage even revealed 2.4 million applications waiting to be processed, which implies that the number has declined from 2.7 million in July.
The current applications in the inventory of IRCC comprise at least 1 million of them, which remain in the standard services. However, 1.3 million applications continue to be in the backlog. Additionally, Canadian family minister Karina Gould talked about the improved processing system for passports at the press conference.
The increase in the Canadian workforce, and also the measure to renew adult passports (of those who’ve had passports as old as 15 years) through a more simplified process.
More measures include executing a triage system to manage lineups, introducing at least nine Service Canada Centers, and also bringing forth 24 rural sites along with remote ones in Ontario, Atlantic Canada, and Quebec.
Omar Alghabra, the Canadian traveling minister even stated the efforts to reduce the waiting times for travelers and add increased staff members, and partner with government-related departments such as the Canadian Border Services Agency, airports, and airlines to address immigration issues.
Other immigration measures
The other important measures include the following:
- Permitting screening officers to keep working besides training to have more on-ground officers at airports.
- Increasing the Transportation Security Clearances issued in 2021 up to three times to welcome new employees.
- Also, improving the waiting times of the pre-board screening across Canada.
- Addition of an increased number of eGates and kiosks responsible for primary inspection at the Toronto Pearson International Airport.
- Reduced aircraft on the Tarmac at the Toronto Pearson International Airport.
