Thank you for your input chingwu. For what it is worth, I was really hoping you were right.
Now, if I may ask a few more questions... Rob, looking at your December 2017 example; if I went ahead and bought a place this December and apply next year; I would send in my notice of assessments for 15/16/17 (or 14/15/16) and then when the application starts to get processed I guess the officer will ask if there were any changes, at this point (assuming he does this check in after December 2018) I would provide them with the notice of assessment for 2018 with enough income for a family of 3, correct? In that case all I have to do is find a job that pays more or get a second job, I guess...
Yes, the key date for family size is the date you submit the application. If on that date you have not lived with partner for 12 months, you are still "single" so family size is 2 for previous 3 tax years. This would not change.
Then once you reach 12 months and become common-law, your family size will change to 3. However you would NOT have to go back and meet that family size for previous 3 years, it would just be in the tax year you became common-law and going forward.
Typically other than the previous 3 years income, they do a final income check towards the end of processing to make sure you've continued to meet LICO with any update to family size while app has been processing.
Also note that if your family size changes, you are then allowed to add a co-signer to meet the new family size LICO if needed.
Yep, looks right to me.
You don't need to worry, as EI/mat leave does NOT count as social assistance so would not affect your sponsorship. The only bar to sponsoring, is being on low-income assistance programs (like welfare).
Just note though there is no excuse to not meet LICO. You are expected to continue to meet LICO even if on mat leave (so a co-signer may be required).
