Canada Program to Legalize Some Immigrants to End

OTTAWA — The two-year-old program to legalize the status of immigrants who have lived in Canada for at least five years will not be extended after July 3, Immigration Minister Flora MacDonald said.

“By then people living in Canada illegally will have had ample time to come forward and have their cases reviewed,” MacDonald said last week in a news release. “I do not intend to further extend the program.”

Under the program 3,135 cases have been approved so far, 132 cases refused and 21 deferred for further consideration. Applicants, who must have been in Canada illegally and have gone undetected by immigration officials, can apply anonymously if they like for permanent resident status.