Close X
Sunday, November 10, 2024
ADVT 
National

Canada welcomed a record number of new citizens in 2014, government says

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 23 Dec, 2014 05:27 PM

    TORONTO — The federal government says Canada welcomed a record number of new citizens in 2014.

    Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander says more than 260,000 people became new Canadians during 2014.

    Alexander says in a release that's more new Canadians than in any year in Canada's history and more than double the number from last year.

    Alexander cites recent changes to the Citizenship Act for improving the citizenship application process, and says applicants are already seeing results.

    A new citizenship decision-making process came into force Aug. 1 and streamlined the process from three steps to one.

    Officials say since implementing the new process, more than 115,000 people have become Canadian citizens — a 90 per cent increase from the same period in 2013.

    Canada's citizenship application backlog has been reduced by 17 per cent since June, and is at its lowest level in almost three years, Alexander said.

    "With more than 260,000 new citizens embracing Canadian values and traditions in 2014, we are fulfilling our commitment to reducing backlogs and, improving processing times," he said.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Social justice found online voice in 2014: Experts say

    Social justice found online voice in 2014: Experts say
    TORONTO — Celebrity watchers and armchair coaches may have produced the most social media chatter over the past 12 months, but those tuned into the web's global conversations believe 2014 will be remembered as the time when social justice advocates found their voice.

    Social justice found online voice in 2014: Experts say

    Jurors in Magnotta trial spending sixth day trying to reach a verdict

    Jurors in Magnotta trial spending sixth day trying to reach a verdict
    MONTREAL — It is Day 6 of deliberations for jurors in the Montreal trial of Luka Rocco Magnotta.

    Jurors in Magnotta trial spending sixth day trying to reach a verdict

    BlackBerry looks to autos, connected homes as avenues for growth in its recovery

    BlackBerry looks to autos, connected homes as avenues for growth in its recovery
    WATERLOO, Ont. — BlackBerry is hoping not only to return to the hearts and minds of smartphone users but, starting next year, the company wants to get into their cars and homes too.

    BlackBerry looks to autos, connected homes as avenues for growth in its recovery

    Pot still preferred drug in Canadian army, while cocaine gains ground: report

    Pot still preferred drug in Canadian army, while cocaine gains ground: report
    HALIFAX — Marijuana remains the drug of choice for members of the Canadian army, based on the Force's latest blind drug testing report that also found cocaine is gaining popularity among some members.

    Pot still preferred drug in Canadian army, while cocaine gains ground: report

    A look at what went wrong with the Nutrition North food subsidy program

    A look at what went wrong with the Nutrition North food subsidy program
    IQALUIT, Nunavut — For years, northerners have complained about Nutrition North to anyone who would listen, grumbling that the $60-million annual federal food subsidy was doing little to ease their staggering grocery costs.

    A look at what went wrong with the Nutrition North food subsidy program

    Federal polls show race is tightening but can't explain the reasons why

    Federal polls show race is tightening but can't explain the reasons why
    OTTAWA — A spate of public opinion surveys this autumn has prompted the usual end-of-year parsing of political fortunes and chin-stroking prognostications about a federal election that may still be 10 months in the future.

    Federal polls show race is tightening but can't explain the reasons why