I take it that I need a visa to live there as a retiree whilst I pursue permanent residency (From what I understand I cannot apply for permanent residency until I live there 3 years out of 5 years)?
Can my wife sponsor my visa?
What steps do I need to take and can we start the process from the US?
As my wife has not lived there for over 22 years can she still get MCP
Can I take any advantage of MCP or do I need to get my own health insurance?
-As a Brit, you only need an electronic travel authorization to visit (like a visa but for visa waiver countries, apply online, costs a few bucks and takes a few minutes). No sponsorship needed for this, but you also have no status apart from as a visitor and no eligibility for health care, to work, etc.
-Your spouse applies to sponsor you to become a permanent resident:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/family-sponsorship/spouse-partner-children.html
Takes from six to 18 months, 12 or so as roughly the period in which 'most will be done' (ie. only complicated files should take longer).
You can apply now, before you move to Canada, but your citizen-spouse will be required to show evidence of 'intent to return' (plans, preparations, etc - things like place to live, preps for how to do so, finances, etc.) As retirees, obviously employment may not be part of your preps, show
anything - whatever you will need to do to retire properly.
If she applies to sponsor you from within Canada, i.e. after you move, that's fine, just delayed start of the processing. You enter Canada as a visitor with leave to stay for six months (typically), you can apply to extend if needed (usually granted but cross that bridge when you come to it).
You can come to Canada before your PR status is approved, you'd just arrive as a visitor; the formal process to become a PR can be done within Canada after.
The obligation to reside in Canada eg 2 years in five (3 in five to become a citizen) only applies after becoming a PR, not before.
Your wife will be eligible as a citizen for health insurance as soon as she 'moves' to reside. Since you refer to MCP, presume you mean BC. In most provinces, a requirement is that a person arriving must remain resident for eg 150-odd days of 180, and days-in-Canada requirements thereafter (importnat for you both if you will be spending time outside of Canada and/or travelling a lot).
You will probably not be eligible until you become a PR but you'll have to check under BC rules. You definitely should have health insurance to cover emergencies etc in the interim. If you are close to the border and you're still covered by US healthcare, you might find it easier to cross the border for some regular stuff; or your US healthcare might cover what you need in Canada for a period of time, but you'll have to check.
