Task Force Established to Reduce Immigration Processing Delays in Canada
Why the Task Force Was Formed
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the creation of a new federal task force to address significant delays across immigration, passport services, and airport operations, deemed “unacceptable” by the government.
Who’s Involved
This high-level task force is composed of 10 Cabinet ministers, including representatives from Immigration, Transportation, Social Development, and Passport Services.
Key Objectives
- Identify weaknesses in service delivery
- Develop both short-term fixes and long-term solutions
- Reduce processing backlogs and wait times
- Improve overall quality of services provided to Canadians
Notable Actions & Investments
- A significant investment (e.g., $85 million) was directed to help reduce the immigration backlog.
- Additional passport pick-up offices were launched, and Service Canada centers expanded to accelerate processing times.
Context: How Big Is the Problem?
The immigration system was grappling with a backlog of over 2 million applications, including surges in both temporary and permanent residence files.
