Government taking action to address growing backlog
Ottawa, October 29, 2013 —Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander today announced aggressive new action to address the growing backlog and increasing processing times in the Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP).
Wait times in the Live-in Caregiver Program have grown to levels that are unacceptable to caregivers,” said Alexander. “Our government has already slashed application backlogs for skilled workers and parents and grandparents. Now, we turn our attention to the LCP.
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Canada will admit 17,500 permanent residents through the Live-in Caregiver Program in 2014 – almost double the number this year. This represents the highest number of LCP admissions in a single year since the program began in 1993.
Application backlogs and processing times have grown steadily in recent years. The number of caregivers completing their work obligations and becoming eligible for permanent residency has routinely outpaced the planned levels of admissions from the program.
Alexander added: “Live-in caregivers participating in the program came here with the promise of permanent residency after meeting work obligations in looking after the children, elderly or disabled people in their care. We need to honour our commitment to them.
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The Live-in Caregiver Program facilitates the entry of qualified caregivers into Canada when employers have not been able to find Canadians to fill these positions. Caregivers can apply for permanent residence in Canada after working for two years during their first four years after entry into Canada. As a result, a record number of live-in caregivers will be admitted as permanent residents of Canada in 2014.
The LCP is unique. Through the LCP, caregivers have a direct path to permanent residence that no other Temporary Foreign Workers enjoy. For more information about the program, please visit CIC’s website.
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Photos of Minister Alexander are available.
For further information (media only), please contact:
Kevin Menard
Minister’s Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-954-1064
Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650
CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca
Building a stronger Canada: Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) strengthens Canada’s economic, social and cultural prosperity, helping ensure Canadian safety and security while managing one of the largest and most generous immigration programs in the world.