Much-maligned immigrant lottery system replaced

More sponsorship applications to be accepted next year on first-in-line basis

The Trudeau government is scrapping an unpopular lottery system for immigrants looking to reunite with their parents and grandparents and is increasing the number of sponsorship applications it will accept next year.

The government will accept 20,000 sponsorship applications next year, up from the cap of 17,000 introduced last month. When the program was reopened in 2014, only 5,000 applications were accepted.

The sponsorship applications will also be done on a first-come, first-serve basis, where previously sponsors were randomly selected to submit their applications. The so-called lottery system drew criticism when it was introduced last year after many potential sponsors said they felt it was unfair.

Starting in 2019, potential sponsors will indicate their willingness to sponsor a parent or grandparent by filling out an “interest to sponsor” form online. Applications will be invited based on the order in which the forms are received until the 20,000 cap is reached.

On Monday, Calgary Centre MP Kent Hehr made the announcement on behalf of the federal government, saying the new process will help families “live, work, play and thrive together.”

“We recognize that families just want to be together and that children benefit from continued support from their elders and loved ones,” Hehr said. “Our government recognizes the important role parents and grandparents play in our society and I’m so very glad that we’re able to reunite even more families under this program.”

Hehr said the government has also cut down on the backlog of applications left behind by the previous government and has reduced processing times to one year.

“In 2011, the backlog peaked at 167,000 applications and, as of June 2018, we’ve reduced that inventory to just under 26,000,” he said.

Hehr said this program isn’t intended just for immigrants and refugees, but also for Canadian citizens who want to sponsor a loved one from abroad.

“In reuniting Canadian citizens and permanent residents with their parents and grandparents, not only do we help these families to succeed, but doing so also benefits the entire country by supporting Canada’s economic prosperity and further strengthening our communities,” he said.

Gyan Kapoor was sponsored by his daughter to come to Canada from India in 2009, but his application wasn’t approved until 2013. He said the five years of waiting was too long and he’s hopeful this new application system will mean other families won’t have to wait as long to be reunited.

“I very much like it here, this is like my second chance at life here in Canada,” he said.

Solomon Nege moved to Calgary nearly 15 years ago after emigrating from Ethiopia. Nege managed to sponsor his wife and motherin-law, who moved to Calgary just in time for her granddaughter to be born.

“I’m so delighted and happy that my family is here in Calgary, Canada, now,” he said.

Nege said his wife’s application, which was done in 2017, was approved in under six months, and he’s thrilled that even more immigrants will reunite with their families in a shorter period of time.

“We really appreciate Canadian people for this opportunity to be reunited and of course we’re contributing to the growth of Canada,” he said.

I’m so very glad that we’re able to reunite even more families under this program.