OTTAWA - The Liberal government says it remains committed to doubling to 10,000 the number of applications it will process each year for family reunification of parents and grandparents.
However the web site of Citizenship and Immigration says applications are now being accepted for 2016 -- and the government web page cautions in bold that the number of applications is capped at 5,000.
Justin Trudeau promised in September during the election campaign that a Liberal government would double the cap as part of a package of immigration reforms.
The annual limit on family reunification applications for aging parents and grandparents was brought in by the former Conservative government, which called the program an abuse of generosity.
The Liberal government did not explain why the 5,000-application cap remains flagged on the web site, but in an emailed statement, Immigration Minister John McCallum said he still plans to double the cap.
He says he will consult his cabinet colleagues on the change early in the new year.
