News Release – Citizenship and Immigration Canada provides open and regular public access to key departmental information

Ottawa, March 16, 2010 — Starting today, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) will now post its most requested statistics on a quarterly basis on its web site, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced.

“We are demonstrating our commitment to transparency and open government by ensuring that our most requested data is up-to-date, easily accessible and posted in a timely manner,” said Minister Kenney. “This will ensure that anyone who would like this data can access it for free whenever they want it, without having to make an Access to Information request.”

The statistics provide current information on the immigration and citizenship processes, such as how many economic class and family class applications have been processed during the Department’s most recent quarter. The information also includes operational data on, for example, citizenship statistics, application processing times, and inventories. CIC is also offering the public access to a free CD with more detailed statistical information.

“By sharing this information proactively on a regular basis, Canadians will have the information they need readily available,” Minister Kenney added.

To order the CD, contact research-recherche@cic.gc.ca. You can view the key immigration and citizenship statistics online.

For further information (media only), please contact:

Alykhan Velshi
Minister’s Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada

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