Welfare is completely irrelevant since for 20 years after becoming a PR, any welfare claimed by parents would be charged directly to sponsor/co-signer and not to the Canadian taxpayer.Aye. I understand LICO.
But as someone mentioned, the general public is not in favor of parent sponsorship because they view it as a drain on the system.
So if you look at the politics, it's a balance between showing the public that the parents that come in are less likely to seek more than just healthcare eg welfare.
The only burden to Canadians is essentially healthcare. Which is why nobody cares how close or far over LICO someone is, as all parents are equally likely to use the healthcare system which effects everyone.
Beating a dead horse as the old system is gone and never coming back.You talk about the price of courier going up and long lines. Nothing wrong with that really isn't it? The reality is the demand is much higher than the supply. No point hiding that. Seeing those long lines makes who unhappy? The general public or the ones who are trying to apply?
As kkim604 said, what's a few hundred dollars in courier fees? Heck even a thousand? The old system showed who was really serious about applying and getting their parents here. Who could have the resources and commitment to really support and help their parents here in Canada.
Instead the Liberals have decided to make the process easy peasy, just give it a try, buy a lottery ticket style. How many Lottery winners do you hear about lose all their winnings in a year? Winning the lottery does not mean these people have any idea what to do with their money. I believe it might be similar with some who win the lottery to sponsor their parents.
To say that the courier fees are prohibitive and that distance is an obstacle to people trying to bring their parents to Canada is a joke. The fees and effort involved in finally getting parents to Canada physically far outstrips any of those costs.
If you can't navigate the old system and couldnt even get your application in, then too bad. Go try again the next year. Put more effort and commitment to the application process.
A lottery trivializes the whole process which is a massive insult to those of us who are totally committed to getting our parents here.