VANCOUVER -- Frustration has been growing among people living in Canada who are trying to get permanent resident status and citizenship. However, the federal government has taken notice and the processing times for applications appear to be speeding up. The pandemic had slowed things down and created a backlog. Yet despite that, the federal government opened the door for more applications. On April 14, it announced a new pathway for 90,000 more immigrants currently living in Canada to get permanent residency. This applied to essential workers and international graduates. “Canada’s path to prosperity lies through immigration,” said Marco Mendicino, Canada's Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.