Angelo Persichilli, who was Prime Minister Stephen Harper's former director of communications, was appointment as the citizenship judge for the Greater Toronto Area, Canadian Immigration Minister Jason Kenney announced Friday.

A professional journalist who worked as Harper chief spokesperson for several months in 2011 and 2012 Persichilli had resigned last year citing health issues.

According to a press release by the Canadian government, the nomination was made from a list of "qualified applications who have gone through rigorous screening, including a written exam, reference check and oral interview."

"Citizenship judges are responsible for making decisions on citizenship applications, presiding over citizenship ceremonies and administering the oath of citizenship to new citizens," release said.

No longer had the nomination of Persichilli been announced than the opposition started criticizing the Harper government's move.

Canadian New Democratic Party Leader Charlie Angus accused the federal government of breaking its promise to stop partisan patronage.

"This really shows the cynicism of the prime minister," Post Media News quoted Charlie Angus, as saying.

"Mr. Harper promised Canadians he would stop partisan patronage but he has broken that promise again and again. From the Senate on down, this appointment is just more of who you know in the PMO," said Angus.

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