On November 9, 2013, the Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander announced that in the period November 9, 2013 - October 31, 2014 Canada is introducing a new cap of a maximum of 12,000 individuals on the number of permanent residence applications it will accept under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program. Applicants with managerial, professional, skilled trade, or technical occupation, and demonstrated language proficiency are eligible under the CEC programme.