Federal Government: Backlog

Skilled Worker Dept: The move will cost the federal government up to $130 million in refunded fees but will also eliminate the backlog of skilled worker applications, according to CTV. Eliminating the backlog is only one of the major changes the government expects to make to the immigration system this year as it seeks to better align immigrant levels to economic needs and oTTAWA Almost 300,000 people who applied before 2008 to come to Canada are having their applications returned. "Canada risks losing the global talent competition for the world's best and brightest as potential immigrants choose to take their skills to other counties with more responsive immigration systems rather than remain in the queue to have their applications process in Canada," Thursday's budget said. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.