THUNDER BAY — An advocate for immigrants says the government's postponement of the next intake under its family reunification program is "frustrating and disappointing" for local residents intending to apply.
Cathy Woodbeck, executive-director of the Thunder Bay Multicultural Association, hopes they don't have to wait long.
While she agrees a review is needed, Woodbeck said "It's unfortunate for the folks that were waiting to apply in January [2020]...There's a pause in their lives and the process of sponsoring parents and grandparents."
The program permits citizens and permanent residents of Canada to apply to sponsor their loved ones wishing to relocate here.
Last year, it received more than 100,000 applications, but only about 27,000 were approved.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced this week that it will delay applications for 2020 while it conducts a review of the process.
The government received complaints after the online application system was shut down last January on the same day that it was opened.
"It took only 10 minutes to take up all of the [allowed] spots, which is completely ridiculous," Woodbeck said.
This isn't the first time the government has changed the program.
"It's been an ongoing conversation for a few years now. It started with a lottery system, and people were complaining about how it was gambling with people's lives, really. Then they went to the first-come, first-served system and there were a lot of issues with that last year," Woodbeck said.
An earlier version of the program led to lineups outside some immigration offices as people strived to submit their applications prior to the cutoff.
Woodbeck acknowledges the government faces challenges in developing a system that is equitable to all.
"Who gets in and how quickly do they get in? How do you do that, in what process and what format?...The critical piece is how do you make it fair, how do you make it accessible, and how do you put that limit on it," she said.
A government statement said "Further information about the expected launch date and 2020 intake process will be available in the new year. This will give all interested sponsors the same opportunity to submit an interest-to-sponsor form and a fair chance to be invited to apply."
Woodbeck is uncertain how the government determines where to cap the number of approvals, however she understands the need for a limit.
She noted that "it's really a no-cost program. People are assuming the responsibility for their parents, and in a lot of cases the parents come and assist with child care, so it's supporting the economy. But how many is too many ? I'm not really sure."
Woodbeck doesn't have access to the statistics, but said a number of families in Thunder Bay have applied previously or still plan to apply to sponsor their family members.
"Folks that have come here as economic immigrants and have parents back home, those that have come as refugees and have established themselves and are working. Many have become Canadian citizens and are looking to sponsor their parents, some of whom are in refugee camps."
Last May, CBC reported that the government quietly struck a settlement with 70 individuals who filed lawsuits alleging faults with the online application process.
It said the lawsuits were abandoned after Ottawa agreed to approve the litigants' applications.
