Press Release Department: Federal - Citizenship and Immigration Canada

Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander (Ajax-Pickering, Ont.) announced the tabling of legislation that will strengthen Canadian laws to prevent barbaric cultural practices from happening on Canadian soil. The Zero Tolerance for Barbaric Cultural Practices Act, Bill S-7, sends a clear message to individuals coming to this country that harmful and violent cultural practices are unacceptable … Read more

For the second year in a row, Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander (Ajax-Pickering, Ont.) and the President of the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne (FCFA) du Canada Marie-France Kenny, jointly marked National Francophone Immigration Week at collège La Cité in Ottawa. More information is available online. Call 613-241-7600 x 1.

Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander (Ajax-Pickering, Ont.) announced that the Government of Canada’s annual immigration plan tabled features this year the highest planned level of admissions in recent history. The Government of Canada is planning to welcome between 260,000 and 285,000 new permanent residents in 2015, an increase of approximately 19,000 planned admissions over last … Read more

Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander (Ajax-Pickering, Ont.) announced that the Government of Canada’s annual immigration plan tabled features this year the highest planned level of admissions in recent history. The Government of Canada is planning to welcome between 260,000 and 285,000 new permanent residents in 2015, an increase of approximately 19,000 planned admissions over last … Read more

“Tatay” Tomas Avendano is the recipient of the 2014 Paul Yuzyk Award for Multiculturalism, recognized in the Lifetime Achievement category, Jason Kenney (Calgary Southeast, Alta.), Minister for Multiculturalism announced. Kenney also announced that in the coming year, the Award categories will be expanded to allow a wider range of Canadians to be recognized for their … Read more

On Oct. 18, 2014, Minister of State (Multiculturalism) Tim Uppal (Edmonton-Sherwood Park, Alta.) welcomed 13 new Canadians at a special citizenship ceremony hosted by the Vancouver Canucks. To celebrate Citizenship Week 2014, Citizenship and Immigration Canada partnered with several National Hockey League (NHL) teams to hold special citizenship ceremonies at NHL games across Canada. These ceremonies … Read more

Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander (Ajax-Pickering, Ont.) announced that more than 200,000 people have joined the Canadian family since the start of 2014. The minister also announced that the citizenship backlog has been reduced by 13 percent since June to its lowest level since spring 2012. These achievements are among the direct results of the … Read more

Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander (Ajax-Pickering, Ont.) was in Regina to deliver the keynote address at the SkilledMigration human resources conference. Alexander spoke to human resources professionals from across Canada about how, with the launch of Express Entry in 2015, Canada will be able to attract skilled immigrants who are most likely to succeed. More … Read more

Thanks to the government’s recent changes to the Citizenship Act, Canada has now welcomed two new citizens under the recently-launched fast-track provision for members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), announced Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander (Ajax-Pickering, Ont.). As part of Citizenship Week, Alexander attended a citizenship ceremony to welcome 50 new citizens and recognized the … Read more

Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander (Ajax-Pickering, Ont.) announced the launch of a Business Express Program (BEP) in Bulgaria and Romania. The BEP will make it easier and faster for businesspeople from these countries to come to Canada. The BEP will make business travel from both countries easier and visas quicker to get. Reliable companies whose employees … Read more