The Canadian Press - ONLINE EDITION By: Stephanie Levitz, The Canadian Press
Posted: 03/29/2012 3:13 PM | Last Modified: 03/29/2012 7:16 PM

OTTAWA - Almost 300,000 people who applied before 2008 to come to Canada are being told they'll need to try again.
Their applications are being returned and $130 million worth of fees being refunded as the government seeks to eliminate a backlog they say has been standing in the way of major reform to the immigration system.
"Canada risks losing the global talent competition for the world's best and brightest as potential immigrants choose to take their skills to other counties with more responsive immigration systems rather than remain in the queue to have their applications process in Canada," Thursday's budget said.
Changes made to the federal skilled workers programs by Immigration Minister Jason Kenney since 2008 have seen a greater focus on bringing in workers with specific skills to fill labour shortages.
But many of those who applied before that date have seen their applications languish in the system. They'll now be told they can either reapply under the new rules or try their luck via the provincial nominee programs.

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See also:

Backgrounder - Supporting Jobs and Opportunity

Budget 2012

Building a Fast and Flexible Economic Immigration System

Since 2006, the Government has pursued much-needed reforms to focus Canada’s immigration system on fuelling economic prosperity for Canada. The Government has placed top priority on attracting immigrants who have the skills and experience our economy needs. The Government is committed to making our immigration system truly fast and flexible in a way that will sustain Canada’s economic growth.

Economic Action Plan 2012 will:

• Realign the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to better meet labour market demands.
• Support further improvements to foreign credential recognition and identify the next set of target occupations beyond 2012.
• Move to an increasingly fast and flexible immigration system where priority focus is on meeting Canada’s labour market needs.
• Return applications and fees to certain federal skilled worker applicants who have been waiting for processing to be completed.

Government forces thousands of hopeful immigrants to reapply
STEVEN CHASE OTTAWA - Globe and Mail Update
Last updated Thursday, Mar. 29, 2012 5:14PM EDT

The change will leave a working queue of 160,000 people who’ve applied since 2008 under the new rules, most of whom can expect their applications to be judged within six to 12 months.

Budget: $130M refund aimed at legislating away skilled worker backlog
By Tobi Cohen, Postmedia News March 29, 2012 edmontonjournal.com