Close X
Friday, November 29, 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

    17-Year-Old Jaylen Sandhu Dead After Attack In Surrey

    17-Year-Old Jaylen Sandhu Dead After Attack In Surrey
    The stabbing happened near Holy Cross Regional secondary school at 16300 block of 88th Avenue around 2:30 p.m. which was on lockdown for around 30 minutes.

    17-Year-Old Jaylen Sandhu Dead After Attack In Surrey

    Body Of Missing Boater Found In B.C.'s Gulf Islands A Week After Disappearance

    Body Of Missing Boater Found In B.C.'s Gulf Islands A Week After Disappearance
    SATURNA, B.C. — The RCMP say divers have recovered the body of a young man who disappeared when a rowboat he was in capsized in B.C.'s southern Gulf Islands.

    Body Of Missing Boater Found In B.C.'s Gulf Islands A Week After Disappearance

    Woman saved by pig liver 20 years ago reunites with medical team

    Woman saved by pig liver 20 years ago reunites with medical team
    MONTREAL — Mavis McArdle says she doesn't feel weird at all that a pig's liver helped save her life.

    Woman saved by pig liver 20 years ago reunites with medical team

    Regina high school exchanges Redmen nickname for Bears after consulting elders

    Regina high school exchanges Redmen nickname for Bears after consulting elders
    REGINA — A Regina high school has a new name.

    Regina high school exchanges Redmen nickname for Bears after consulting elders

    Vancouver School Board Calls on BC Government to Support Graduated Adults

    Vancouver School Board Calls on BC Government to Support Graduated Adults
    Vancouver, BC – Earlier this week the Vancouver School Board passed a motion calling on the BC Government to immediately reverse the announced cuts to BC school districts for graduated adults who plan to upgrade their courses. 

    Vancouver School Board Calls on BC Government to Support Graduated Adults

    Obama on whether he'd consider Republican Keystone bill: 'I'll see what they do'

    Obama on whether he'd consider Republican Keystone bill: 'I'll see what they do'
    WASHINGTON — U.S. President Barack Obama spent five minutes today disparaging the potential benefits of the Keystone XL pipeline project. He then kept it alive with five words.

    Obama on whether he'd consider Republican Keystone bill: 'I'll see what they do'