“Nothing is better than going home to family.”
Immigrants to any country in the world yearn to unite with their family members. Therefore, family reunification is one of the crucial features of the Canadian immigration system.
Canada has a special Family Class immigration category, known as Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), through which citizens or adult permanent residents of Canada are able to sponsor their parents or grandparents to immigrate to Canada. Sponsored parents or grandparents are then eligible to become permanent residents.
Disputed Saga of Parents and Grandparents Program:
Back in 2017, Canada had a “first-come-first-served” selection process for the PGP program. Later on, Canada shifted to a randomized selection process that turned out to be highly controversial. This process was more like a lottery system and was widely denounced as unfair. In fact, a petition was filed against this system which led to the removal of this program.
Then, in 2019, the federal government announced to move back to the earlier model of selection: First-Come, First-Served. The first-in approach is used to make the process fair and transparent. However, this process is also not free from the challenges.
Challenges to PGP Program:
According to Canada’s 2019-21, Immigration Levels plan, IRCC is required to intake 21,000 people through the PGP program. Going with the plan, a window was reopened to the sponsors to submit an interest to sponsor form on the IRCC website. But the process received widespread criticism and frustration on social media, as around 100,000 people tried to fill the form and that too, for 21,000 spots only.
So, the PGP program has fierce competition which makes it a challenge to fulfill the requests of such a large number of applicants.
Cost-Benefit Analysis:
Each and every country desires to have immigrants who contribute to economic growth and fill the labor needs.
Through the Family Class Immigration category, Canada is always willing to welcome spouses. The country opens the door to refugees as well. But why not parents or grandparents? The reason is evident. The PGP program, through which parents or grandparents are invited to settle in Canada, has a share of only 6 percent because this program does not ensure high economic benefits to the country. On the contrary, parents and grandparents require the health care without making a contribution in taxes.
Nevertheless, looking at the benefit of the PGP program through a different perspective, there is a good reason to welcome parents and grandparents. They are the primary caretakers of the house in the absence of breadwinners. They take care of children, which surely enables their families to earn more and pay taxes. It is, ultimately, a good thing for the economy of Canada.
Ways to strengthen the PGP Program:
One of the major flaws of the PGP Program is that several applicants submit an “Interest to Sponsor” form. Among these applicants, the number of applicants who actually qualify for this process is low. This, eventually, results in increased backlogs.
Thus, only those people who meet the basic requirements needed to qualify for this process should be allowed to fill the form. Moreover, they should be informed in advance to keep their documents ready whenever the window reopens.
Next, the federal government should be able to manage its immigration levels according to the number of applications it receives.
Further, in order to lessen the burden on the PGP program, the use of a super visa should be promoted.
Alternative to PGP Program:
For sponsors who do not get a chance to reunite with their parents or grandparents through the PGP program, the Canada super visa offers an interim solution.
Super visa allows parents or grandparents of citizens or permanent residents of Canada to enter the country multiple times for a period of 10 years. They can stay for a maximum period of 2 years.
Launched in 2011, Super Visa has been beneficial to the families and it supports the Family reunification motive which is an immigration priority of the federal government. Additionally, the best thing about super visa is its fast processing time.
However, it must be taken into notice that parents and grandparents who own a super visa are not given a permit to work in Canada. And, they also need to have medical insurance for at least a year.
Finally, it can be rightly believed that those who missed the opportunity to submit an application via the PGP program, can consider taking the help of a super visa and have their parents and grandparents with them in Canada.
Family reunification is the strength of Canadian immigration system; the PGP program being the backbone of it. As a result, a number of innovative ways must be adopted to improve the working of this program.
