OTTAWA — 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.
Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen will announce the changes today at an event in Vancouver.
The changes, which will take effect in 2019, will replace the random selection process for sponsorship applications with a first-come-first-served application process.
#BTW, in 2011, the backlog peaked at 167,000 applications. And, as of June 2018, we reduced the inventory to just under 26,000 persons. The backlog has been reduced by 84%.
— Kent Hehr 🇨🇦 (@kenthehr) August 20, 2018
4/4 pic.twitter.com/d8YPHaKXsi
The so-called lottery system drew criticism when it was introduced last year after many potential sponsors said they felt it was unfair.
Hussen says his department is responding to the feedback he received and will have more improvements to the program to announce this fall.
Government will also accept more parent and grandparent sponsorship applications in 2019. The current cap of 17,000 applications will be increased to 20,000 next year.
We heard you clearly – we need to move toward an immigration system that works for everyone. That is why we are making the Parents and Grandparents Program fairer by ending the lottery system & moving to a first-come, first-serve basis. Next year we will accept 20k applications. pic.twitter.com/EWK6GDw7yb
— Sonia Sidhu MP (@SoniaLiberal) August 20, 2018
MP @kenthehr and Minster @HonAhmedHussen announced today that as of 2019, #Canada will accept 20,000 applications under the parents and grandparents family reunification category. #ReunitingFamilies pic.twitter.com/4LqcJSpe2c
— ISC (@askISC) August 20, 2018
Announcing on behalf of @HonAhmedHussen changes to parents & grandparents immigration stream, including accepting 20K applications in 2019, a substantial reduction of the backlog, and a modified, more flexible intake process. #ReunitingFamilies pic.twitter.com/2XjLRE5aAk
— Salma Zahid (@SalmaZahid15) August 20, 2018
Our govt is committed to #reunitingfamilies. Proud to be in #Surrey to announce we are increasing the # of parents & grandparents under the program.
— Ahmed Hussen (@HonAhmedHussen) August 20, 2018
⬆️ 4x the increase over the previous gov't
✂️ Cut the backlog by 84%
💡 A new application processhttps://t.co/WEiRESB18S pic.twitter.com/mNyFbLtwbW
