Citizenship: Vance Langford and Citizenship Judges

citizenship: They also say the shortage of citizenship judges is also affecting those with uncomplicated applications. "There are people in Edmonton that have been waiting months just for the grant of citizenship," said Vance Langford, a Calgary immigration lawyer and president of the Canadian Bar Association immigration section. "They have met the requirements, they've been notified that they have been approved and they have been waiting simply for the ceremony so that a judge can grant them citizenship, and that is taking many months and it is due to a lack of judges being available." Justice minister announces 24 new judges in effort to end national shortage Canada caught off guard by number of Syrian refugee children Trudeau government has backlog of more than 300 appointments Immigration Minister John McCallum said the government is identifying candidates to fill the position now. "I know that for some citizenship ceremonies we have, on occasion, had other people officiating, so I think we're managing, according to CBC. Obviously it would be better when we have our full complement, but I think that will come fairly soon," he said. Lawyers say wait times for more complicated citizenship cases have been getting worse. The problem centres on the Liberal government appointment process. The government says the delay is in part the result of its decision to introduce a more balanced, merit-based appointment system. In its first year in office, it has accumulated a backlog of more than 300 appointments that are either vacant or occupied by someone whose appointment is past its expiry date. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.