News Release - Government of Canada announces pilot project to help speed the processing of new applications

Ottawa, September 5, 2008 — The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, announced today a pilot project that will centralize the intake of applications from prospective immigrants applying under the federal skilled worker category.

With funding provided in the 2008 budget, which set aside $109 million to help meet the growing demand for permanent and temporary immigration, a centralized intake office will be established at CIC’s Case Processing Centre in Sydney, Nova Scotia. Over 30 additional staff will eventually be hired and trained. The centre will begin reviewing applications in October.

“In order to get the people we need to this country, we need to process applications faster,” said Minister Finley. “This pilot is one of several measures we are taking to help reduce wait times overall. By centralizing the intake of federal skilled worker applications, we are alleviating some of the workload in our overseas visa offices. This allows visa officers to focus more on processing applications.

“In addition to improving the way we process applications, this centre will create new jobs in Nova Scotia,” the Minister added. “This is a win situation for Nova Scotians, for Canadians and for prospective immigrants.”

CIC will evaluate the effectiveness of this pilot after 18 months and will adjust as necessary. The Department is also taking other measures to reduce wait times and address the immigration backlog. These measures include sending more staff to help out in areas around the world where wait times are the longest, redistributing work from busy to less busy visa offices, and reconfirming the interest of the applicants who have been waiting the longest.

For more information on CIC programs, please visit www.cic.gc.ca.

For further information (media only), please contact:

Tim Vail
Press Secretary
Minister’s Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-954-1064

Media Relations Unit
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650
CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca