Ms. Arellano, earlier this year Minister Mendicino announced a plan to overcome the pandemic-related roadblocks that have interfered with processing applications from caregivers and their families, by announcing a plan for 2021 that includes finalizing of permanent resident applications for up to 6,000 caregivers who have completed their in-Canada work experience, and their immediate families, by December 31, 2021; making at least 1,500 first-stage decisions on applications for the home child care provider and home support worker pilots by June 30, 2021; increasing the digitization of caregiver applications; and ensuring applicants receive acknowledgement of receipt letters by May 31, 2021.
Can you please tell the committee if you feel these initiatives will have a positive impact on the backlog for processing of caregiver applications?