Why not just get rid of the Canadian spousal sponsorship backlog?
The simple answer is we should get rid of the sponsorship backlog and live up to our commitments to family reunification. The petition specifically mentions allocating a special budget to address the backlog of Canadian spousal sponsorship applications. But processing applications for Canadian permanent residence takes time, even under ideal conditions.
However, processing applications for temporary visas like work or study permits is something that the government has shown itself capable of doing quickly during the pandemic. Creating the STRV is a tangible and achievable goal that will allow separated families to be reunited in the near future.