![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.canadavisa.com\/images\/_1200x630_crop_center-center_82_none\/parents.jpg?mtime=1656366125\" "\\"\\"")
![\"Parents\"](\"https:\/\/www.canadavisa.com\/images\/_newsThumbnail\/parents.jpg\")
<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Canadian immigration processing times are increasing as a backlog of applications is building up at visa offices. Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Jason Kenney suggested that a simple solution may exist \u2013 decrease the number of applications Canada accepts from people wanting to join their families in Canada.<\/p>\n
Since 2006, Canada has accepted approximately 254,000 immigrants annual, but there are over one million people still waiting to be assessed. Kenney said in a recent statement that part of the problem facing Canadian immigration officials is that Canada has a good reputation as a land of opportunity, making Canada a popular destination for immigrants. Another problem is based on a system that the Liberal party had set up wherein an unlimited number of applications were accepted per year.<\/p>\n
Rather than accept an unlimited number of applications, Kenney suggested that the backlog problem can be resolved by decreasing the number of applications accepted and increasing the number of applications that are approved each year.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will have to be a combination of both, because the volume (of applications) is so great,\u201d the Minister told reporters. \u201cLast year we received 38,000 applications for parents and grandparents. And this is at time when we\u2019re trying to reduce the overall age of the population,\u201d he said, hinting that the family category may see a decline in the number of applications accepted.<\/p>\n
Under Canada\u2019s\u00a0Family Class Sponsorship Program, Canadian Permanent Residents living in Canada and citizens can sponsor members of their family for Canadian Permanent Residency. However, Canada is experiencing a large backlog of applications, specifically in the parental and grandparent sponsorship category.<\/p>\n
Not everyone agrees with Kenney. NDP MP Don Davies said Kenney\u2019s statement is contrary to his party\u2019s behaviour. \u201cEvery single year since this government\u2019s been in power, they have reduced the number of visas granted to parents, spouses, children and grandparents,\u201d Davies said. \u201cThey always talk about Canada having the most generous immigration policy in the world per capita\u2026 It\u2019s a fool\u2019s game to compare Canada that way.\u201d<\/p>\n