Senator Loffreda: Thank you for that response, Senator Gold. I’m relieved to hear that the money is starting to flow into the departments and that problems are starting to be solved.

Despite encouraging unemployment numbers in recent months, I know that many employers are still having difficulty hiring people. It’s a huge problem. Word on the street is that businesses are not being consulted and asked what type of skilled workers they need.

I know the minister will unveil a new immigration plan this month. Can you assure us that the government will consult widely with the business community and experts, and that it will consider realigning its immigration priorities and policies to ensure that we attract the talent our economy actually needs?

Hon. Tony Loffreda: Honourable senators, my question is for Senator Gold, the Government Representative in the Senate. My question today focuses not so much on Canadians but those who may wish to become Canadians. It’s no secret that there are massive backlogs at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. This has been going on for years. In some ways, it’s a good problem to have because it shows how attractive Canada is to foreigners. However, it is completely unacceptable that visa applications can take up to three years to process. These applicants deserve an answer, whether it’s yes or no. The least we can do is show them the respect they deserve and make a decision in a timely manner.

Last year, the government announced in its Fall Economic Statement that $85 million would be spent to hire more public servants to address the backlogs, among other things.

Can you tell us if the government has started to spend this money and if new immigration officers have been hired to help address the processing issues?