Canada has a huge backlog of immigration applications - well over 900,000 - and hundreds of thousands more people apply every year. Many people have been waiting years for their applications to be processed. The federal government says the first-come, first-served immigration process has also prevented Canada from admitting individuals with the skills and experience that Canadian employers need.

In an attempt to come to grips with the problem, amendments to the Canadian Immigration and Refugee Protection Act were passed this summer. The major changes to the process mean that Citizen and Immigration Canada will no longer have to process all immigration applications. They can now return applications (and refund the corresponding application fees) without processing them. The amendments also give the Minister of Immigration the power to issue instructions to set priorities for certain skills and occupations to allow labour shortages in Canada to be filled more quickly.

The federal government is currently consulting with provincial and territory governments and other relevant groups to define the priorities. The government says it still aims to keep "a balance between the economic, family reunification and refugee protection goals of Canada’s immigration system."

More on Immigration to Canada
Check Your Immigration Status Online
Temporary Resident Visas for Canada
Temporary Work Permits for Foreign Workers in Canada
Study Permits for Canada
Immigration to Canada

The price of gas seems to beat even the weather as a topic of conversation these days. Petroleum marketing specialists M.J. Ervin and Associates tracked the average price of gas at the pump at locations across Canada last week at more than $1.28 a litre. A new Statistics Canada study says Canadians have been slow to change their driving and commuting habits though. One of the reasons they give is that the higher price of gas has been partly offset by lower prices for other goods, including cars, as well as higher incomes.

Looks like it's time we all followed some basic energy conservation tips:

• Go Easy on Your Car Air Conditioner
• Reduce Idling
• Drive Smoothly
• Plan Ahead
• Check Your Tire Pressure
• Get Regular Oil Changes
• Inspect and Change Car Filters
• Save Your Transit Pass

Photo: Cocoon / Digital Vision / Getty Images