Parents Sponsorship - Stop Immigration Lottery

[steaky]

Well the Conservatives would probably slash the cap back to 5,000 like they originally did in 2014. Of the 2 major parties, the current Liberals are actually more generous and open to the program.

Other parties like the NDP or Green I have no idea on their parents program views are. To vote for a party solely on this reason though doesn't seem very smart since I doubt any party would actually bring it up during a campaign.

I didn't vote for Liberals in the last election solely on this reason. There's other reasons such as legalizing marijuana promise. You are fine with smoking weeds?

 

[Rob_TO]

I didn't vote for Liberals in the last election solely on this reason. There's other reasons such as legalizing marijuana promise. You are fine with smoking weeds?

Weed is safer than alcohol so really I couldn't care less if people do it in their own homes or private places and it's prohibited in public places like smoking is.

When I choose who to vote for it's mainly for their promises on issues that concern taxes, child care, jobs, etc. Things like parents sponsorship and weed, are at the bottom of any list.

 

[Buletruck]

To vote for a party solely on this reason though doesn't seem very smart since I doubt any party would actually bring it up during a campaign.

Agreed. That is a complete waste of a vote and risks introducing other policy that could ultimately be harmful to the country as a whole. You end up with a PGP program that accommodates everyone, but by the way you are now facing a 60% increase in personal tax and minimum wage is going up to $25/hr or harmful economic policies. When you vote you really need to look at the whole package, not just what suits your immediate need (although people, being people don’t usually follow that advice).

 

[nayr69sg]

When I choose who to vote for it's mainly for their promises on issues that concern taxes, child care, jobs, etc. Things like parents sponsorship and weed, are at the bottom of any list.

So who did you vote for Rob?

Liberals policies have the middle class paying more taxes. The super rich who have family trusts like Trudeau and Morneau have no increase in their taxes. How convenient.

Jobs? The improvement in Canada economy has less to do with Trudeau policies but rather the global economy general improvement.

If anything Trudeau policies are hurting jobs.

I don't vote CPC because of the PGP. In fact I know CPC will introduce measures to cut the program or make it merit based to lower the cost to Canadians.

I vote CPC because of economy and jobs.

Liberals are more focused on welcoming former ISIS terrorists and spending tax payer money rehabilitating them or even paying them off to be quiet than pay Canada war veterans.

Go figure

 

[nayr69sg]

Name me some important bills Trudeau has passed and truly made a difference to the economy?

Paris accord? Truth and reconciliation?

This is what Liberal voters want? Ok. If not speak out ok?

 

[JulianaAndrew]

Name me some important bills Trudeau has passed and truly made a difference to the economy?

Paris accord? Truth and reconciliation?

This is what Liberal voters want? Ok. If not speak out ok?

Sir, this is not a forum about politics, if you want to talk about that, I suggest you find a different forum. This forum is for family sponsorship related topics only.

 

[4parents]

Ya FIFO was 7 years back then, and growing. CIC had projected at that time the backlog would grow to 15+ years by this time if the old process continued, increasing further each year.

It's still the case today, nothing changed, it's all window dressing about backlog and processing times. As I mentioned earlier, now the average real wait is about 15 years.
Just now we have the "official" backlog (which they will keep stable), and "unofficial" backlog (growing) of people waiting to be selected by the lottery.

Again the reason the government doesn't put a priority on parents, is that the majority of Canadians don't care

Unfortunately it's true, but that's exactly why those who care should get together and present a proposal of changes. We don't have to change the mindset of the majority of Canadians, but if large-enough population of those affected will speak about the issue, things will change. The more united the message will be, the faster the change will come

 

[4parents]

I would rather vote for another political party in the next federal election instead.

I think it's pretty much known Liberals won't win the next election.

That is what democracy is about. Not this petition stuff.

Petitioning is part of democracy

4parents did you vote Liberal?

I decided not to vote in this past election

 

[4parents]

I wrote to many MPs in the past year to get their opinion and a feel for what each party thinks about the current state of the PGP program. Pretty soon I realized I am being sent template letters - see below - which tells me already that it's a big enough issue that they distribute templates to the members of their party, probably they get many questions/concerns about the changes.
That is one of the reasons I strongly believe if many people get organized and demand something clear and specific, there is a chance of this being implemented.

Conservative
Summary of discussions: they will return PGP to FIFO, not clear if will reduce back to 5k

a)
The Liberals have changed the system to determine whose grandparents and parents can become permanent residents.
The Liberal Government’s change towards a lottery system is a total abdication of responsibility. The Liberals are leaving the system to chance instead of making improvements in a systemic and purposeful way. Under the new system, it really has become luck of the draw as to whether you get into Canada or not.
The Immigration Minister must take leadership and look through a management lens if he actually wants to improve processes. The Liberals have overpromised and under delivered on this file. While the Liberals claim the new system will make the process “more fair and transparent”, stakeholders and families are telling us that they weren’t given any information or indication as to when the process would be complete. Failing to communicate to potential newcomers and their families does not indicate an open and transparent process as the Liberals claim.
This is just another example of how the Liberal government has failed to show leadership, efficiency and transparency with the Immigration file.

b)
Conservative Party feels that the Liberal Government’s change towards a lottery system is a total abdication of responsibility. The government is leaving the system to chance instead of making improvements in a systemic and purposeful way.
Under the new system, it really has become luck of the draw as to whether you get into Canada or not. We encourage the Immigration Minister to take leadership and look through a management lens if he actually wants to improve processes. The Liberals have over promised and under delivered on this file.
While the Liberals claim the new system will make the process “more fair and transparent”, stakeholders and families are telling us that they weren’t given any information or indication as to when the process would be complete. Failing to communicate to potential newcomers and their families does not indicate an open and transparent process as the Liberals claim.
Rest assured that while the Liberal government fails to show leadership, efficiency or transparency on the immigration file, our Conservative caucus will continue to hold them to account and ensure that families are presented with a clear and fair process.

NDP
Summary of discussions: remove lottery, remove limits, reduce processing times. But not clear how they want to achieve all of this

As you may know, our NDP Critic for this file is Jenny Kwan. MP Kwan is the Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration (CIMM). In March, the Committee tabled a report in the House of Commons following the conclusion of a comprehensive study on family reunification. That report can be found here [ http://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/42-1/CIMM/report-8/page-129#37 ]. In addition to the recommendations in the main report which we supported, the NDP also submitted a supplementary report. Regarding the Parent and Grandparent program specifically, we further recommended that: IRCC remove the quota on parent and grandparent applications and ensure adequate resources are allocated to this program to address backlogs and reduce processing times to 12 months.
The NDP has long advocated for the overall increase in annual immigration levels for Canada. Policy experts are clear that Canada can and should increase immigration levels to help counter our aging demographics and fulfill our economic needs. It is my firm belief that as part of the increased levels of immigration that a particular increase to the family reunification programs should also occur. Strong families build strong communities, and strong communities build a strong country.

Liberal
Summary of discussions: they believe they are doing a great job. May continue to slowly increase the application intake limit as backlog stabilizes, but will keep the lottery

The Government has updated how sponsors can apply for the Parents and Grandparents Program. The changes have been made as part of the Government’s commitment to fairness and transparency. These changes are meant to improve people’s access to the application process. Before, sponsors had to rush to apply in January when the program re-opened, which led some applicants to pay higher courier fees in an attempt to secure their spot. Now there is no rush to complete the online form right away but rather you have 30 days.
The Liberal Government is committed to making family reunification easier for immigrants so that they can build successful lives in Canada and contribute to the economic success of all Canadians. IRCC is committed to ensuring that applications are processed as quickly as possible and has been focusing on these efforts.

 

[nayr69sg]

Apparently we should not talk about political parties here. I am guessing Julianne Andrew is a Liberal supporter?

4parents you should vote at every election if you can. It is more important than petitions.

I am certainly voting Andrew Scheer and CPC again next elections

Oops sorry JulianaAndrew.

 

[steaky]

So who did you vote for Rob?

Liberals policies have the middle class paying more taxes. The super rich who have family trusts like Trudeau and Morneau have no increase in their taxes. How convenient.

Jobs? The improvement in Canada economy has less to do with Trudeau policies but rather the global economy general improvement.

If anything Trudeau policies are hurting jobs.

I don't vote CPC because of the PGP. In fact I know CPC will introduce measures to cut the program or make it merit based to lower the cost to Canadians.

I vote CPC because of economy and jobs.

Liberals are more focused on welcoming former ISIS terrorists and spending tax payer money rehabilitating them or even paying them off to be quiet than pay Canada war veterans.

Go figure

Totally agreed.

 

[nayr69sg]

I wrote to many MPs in the past year to get their opinion and a feel for what each party thinks about the current state of the PGP program. Pretty soon I realized I am being sent template letters - see below - which tells me already that it's a big enough issue that they distribute templates to the members of their party, probably they get many questions/concerns about the changes.
That is one of the reasons I strongly believe if many people get organized and demand something clear and specific, there is a chance of this being implemented.

Conservative
Summary of discussions: they will return PGP to FIFO, not clear if will reduce back to 5k


NDP
Summary of discussions: remove lottery, remove limits, reduce processing times. But not clear how they want to achieve all of this


Liberal
Summary of discussions: they believe they are doing a great job. May continue to slowly increase the application intake limit as backlog stabilizes, but will keep the lottery

Thanks for sharing 4parents. I do agree with The CPC.

All lotteries should be held in public with a system that can be witnessed to ensure impartiality and confidence it is not rigged.

With the Liberals PGP lottery there is no such assurance. Who knows what happens behind the scenes?

 

[Rob_TO]

So who did you vote for Rob?

I've voted for both over the past few elections. Irrelevant to this conversation though.

I think it's pretty much known Liberals won't win the next election.

Liberals currently lead in the polls. So nothing is known.

By all rights the Ontario Liberals should have been trounced in the last provincial election after all their scandals and incompetance, but here we are.

 

[Rob_TO]

It's still the case today, nothing changed, it's all window dressing about backlog and processing times. As I mentioned earlier, now the average real wait is about 15 years.
Just now we have the "official" backlog (which they will keep stable), and "unofficial" backlog (growing) of people waiting to be selected by the lottery.

IRCC does not like official backlogs. Whenever any immigration program gets a backlog too large, they make drastic changes to cut it. This has happened in numerous programs.

So this is why you will never see it reverting back to the old FIFO system with no caps. The 15 years would have continued to grow as the number of PGP PRs issued each year remained fixed, but more and more people submitted apps.

Government is perfectly fine with an "unofficial" backlog since that doesn't really exist or affect their metrics.

Unfortunately it's true, but that's exactly why those who care should get together and present a proposal of changes. We don't have to change the mindset of the majority of Canadians, but if large-enough population of those affected will speak about the issue, things will change. The more united the message will be, the faster the change will come

There are not enough people that care about the PGP program to make a difference in terms of allowing more parents in per year. Plus even for many that do care (like my wife who may one day decide to sponsor her parents), they are perfectly fine with the current lottery system and don't want it to go back to old FIFO way.

 

[Rob_TO]

NDP
Summary of discussions: remove lottery, remove limits, reduce processing times. But not clear how they want to achieve all of this
As you may know, our NDP Critic for this file is Jenny Kwan. MP Kwan is the Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration (CIMM). In March, the Committee tabled a report in the House of Commons following the conclusion of a comprehensive study on family reunification. That report can be found here [ http://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/42-1/CIMM/report-8/page-129#37 ]. In addition to the recommendations in the main report which we supported, the NDP also submitted a supplementary report. Regarding the Parent and Grandparent program specifically, we further recommended that: IRCC remove the quota on parent and grandparent applications and ensure adequate resources are allocated to this program to address backlogs and reduce processing times to 12 months.
The NDP has long advocated for the overall increase in annual immigration levels for Canada. Policy experts are clear that Canada can and should increase immigration levels to help counter our aging demographics and fulfill our economic needs. It is my firm belief that as part of the increased levels of immigration that a particular increase to the family reunification programs should also occur. Strong families build strong communities, and strong communities build a strong country.

This is one of the most idiotic statements I've ever read on the topic, and why the NDP will never be considered a serious contender in any election.

They want to remove quotas and simply say anyone that wants to sponsor their parents can do so within 12 months. No regard to effects to healthcare by allowing any number of parents PRs in any given year with no limits.

Then in the next sentance they say they want to help counter an aging demographic.

This party has zero clue what they're doing.