Backlog: Immigration Minister Jason Kenney

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney: New applications to the parent and grandparent program had been temporarily suspended for two years to deal with a substantial backlog of applications. Immigration Minister Jason Kenney announced Friday that applications will be accepted again starting Jan. 1, 2014, according to The Star. In September 2011 there was a backlog of 165,000 people who had applied under the parent and grandparent program with a wait time of more eight years, he said, adding that when the program reopens the wait time will be three and a half years and The Conservative government has once more tightened the rules around immigration this time changing the family reunification program to make it more difficult for parents and grandparents to be accepted. Only 5,000 new applications a year will be accepted on a first come, first served basis, so the system can get rid of a substantial backlog, Kenney said at a news conference. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.