It is with great enthusiasm that I welcome the announcement of the Minister of Immigration, Sean Fraser, regarding the modernization and acceleration of immigration files.

For the members of my riding, especially for those who are waiting to become Canadian citizens, as well as new permanent residents who are waiting for their cards, and  employers who will be able to fill their need for workers, not to forget our students, this announcement is good news.  Immigration benefits all Canadians by growing our economy and strengthening our communities.

It is important to note that the 2021 budget will help improve the application process while reducing delays for individuals and businesses in 2022. The 2021 Economic and Fiscal Update allocated $85 million to the Ministry of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, which allows for the hiring of 500 new processing staff, as well as the finalization of 147,000 applications for permanent residence, double the number for the same period in 2021.

The Ministry has also expanded its advanced analytics system to help caseworkers expedite decisions on temporary residence visas. 

Applicants will also have greater interactivity during the application process through this modernization of the system. Minister Fraser announced the expansion of the online application portal by the summer of 2022. This digital format will reduce delays and allow for immediate confirmation that a client's application has been received. For spousal sponsorship applicants, a new permanent residence case tracking system will be launched shortly, which will allow clients to access information related to their online application.

In addition, Minister Fraser is studying the possibility of providing Canadian citizenship applicants with the option of administering their own oath of citizenship by way of a signed certificate and celebrating their citizenship at a later date.