Vancouver, Jan 23 (IANS) About 800,000 people, many of them highly qualified, have been waiting for years to be accepted into Canada due to government red tape.

Many Canadian provinces have joined together in urging the government that more newcomers be admitted and the backlog cleared. The 800,000 include many parents who have been waiting for years to reunite with their families.

"It is unfair to have 800,000 people waiting in line for so long," Mike Colle, Ontario citizenship and immigration minister, was quoted as saying by the Toronto Sun newspaper. "It is frustrating for these people and they're going elsewhere."

Indian architect Ajit Bhamra said he is still waiting after paying $1,100 in application fees more than 28 months ago to sponsor his parents from India.

"People don't want their money back. We just want action on our cases," Bhamra said.

"Canada is an extremely popular place and many people want to come here. We have to get rid of the backlog and clear the books," Colle said.

He called for a five-year plan to clear the backlog.

"We would like to do our part to handle more immigrants as long as there's federal funding. We have a flat population growth and our workforce is getting older." 

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