One way to clear out the backlog would be to send out instructions to not take in any skilled worker applications for a period of time--be it one, two, or three years. At the end of that period there would be no more backlog. I don't know if that's what the minister intends to do, because at this point she has not given any indication as to what those instructions will be. But the minister will have the power to clear out the backlog.
The measures, however, will be drastic if they are taken, and we ought to be concerned about the discretion given to officers in the long run.