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Can I get a template for the email you sent to your MP. I think I’ll do the sam.
I filled in the contact form on her webpage. It was long, but I have typed something similar out below. The opinions and ideas are all mine, some of which I know some of you share, and I am sure many of you will disagree, but that is not what this is about. Feel free to copy and paste and amend accordingly.
I wrote something along the lines of:
Dear .....
I am contacting you regarding the Parent and Grandparent Immigration program.
I emigrated, along with my son, from XXXXX to your constituency in YEAR. I came with XX years of experience in PROFESSION and I continue to fulfil this role. I am pleased to be able to share my expertise with my Canadian co-workers. I am an active member of my local community GIVE EXAMPLES.
(This next bit may not apply to everyone, but you can edit accordingly)
My Parents both held professional careers for 40+ years. They have good pensions and savings, and would be self sufficient if they came to Canada. They also have fluency in English and some French. As their potential sponsor, I earn twice the required LICO sum. I am an only child, and my parents are my only living relatives, apart from my son. My parents do not need anything from Canada, only to be here, pay their taxes and see their grandson grow up.
I would appreciate if you could bring the following to the Immigration Minister's attention regarding the current program:
1. In 2019 we were advised that the PGP Sponsorship program would no longer act as a lottery, however there seems to have been a complete U-turn with the 2020 intake already having been completed by lottery, and confirmation that the 2021 intake will be done in the same manner. Why was this u-turn made?
2. To take part in the lottery draw, you need nothing more than a PR card/ passport. Many people take a chance at the lotto stage, even though they do not meet the criteria for selection. If I base numbers on an immigration forum I am on, it appears that almost 25% of invitations sent out were sent to people who were not eligible to sponsor, mostly because they did not meet the income criteria, but also because they decided to try this program to sponsor other relatives. That is 2500 heartbroken families earning well and paying their taxes in Canada who could have sponsored their parents. My suggestion to overcome this is that income should need to be proved at the Registration of Interest stage. It can be done very simply by applicants granting access to CRA online. I also suggest that a small charge is made at this stage, so of approximately $500. It is enough to deter people taking a chance, but not enough to put off genuine applicants, and will also generate some revenue for the IRCC.
3. Thirdly I would like to suggest that there is some consequence for those who are sent invitations and do not meet the criteria to apply, for example, a given period of time before they can apply again.
4. I would also like to suggest that the LICO values are increased, as those annual income rates are really not sufficient to support seniors in their retirement years.
5. Many people put in duplicate applications in the hope that an additional one will sneak through when they are filtered out. I was very cautious to get my application correct, and submit only one. How can we ensure that our single applications were not accidentally deleted? Surely there is a way to set up the system so that the same PR card/ Passport number cannot be entered twice.
6. Lastly, regarding the current system, why is the notification of interest list started afresh every year? As the 2020 notification of interest list was so late in the year, and encompasses the same tax returns as will be required for 2021 applicants, would it not make more sense to simply draw from the existing list?
Some changes to immigration options for Parents and Grandparents that I would like to suggest are:
1. A points based system open all year, where draws are made taking those with the most points, similar to that operated for Express Entry. Points could be awarded for financial assets of parents, language (as in all other streams) as well as income of sponsor and job security of sponsor based on our qualifications and NOC. All other immigration streams are merit based, so why should this one not also be?
2. The introduction of a retiree investment program, where retirees do not need a sponsor (but could be awarded points for having relatives in Canada). If they have sufficient assets, they could make investments as the Government directed, have to commit to leaving the money invested for a given period, prove they have assets to support themselves while their other money is tied up, and come and enjoy their retirement in Canada.
I appreciate your time, and look forward to receiving your support in this matter. My parents simply want to come to Canada, be self sufficient and pay their taxes here while they watch their grandson grow.
Kindest regards .......
