The reduction in Canadian Visa numbers for family reunifications shows the Governemnt is out of touch, says an Ontario MP.
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16 February 2011
Ontario MP slams Canadian visa cutbacks for family reunification
An Ontario MP has spoken against a decision by the Federal Government to cut family reunification visas by 30 per cent.
Mississauga-Brampton South Navdeep Bains says the decision, announced Sunday by Canadian Immigration Minister Jason Kenney, will essentially keep families apart for up to 13 years because of processing delays.
Mr Bains said the Government should be looking at ways to bring families together, and that the Conservatives are out of touch with the needs of new Canadian families.
More than 148,000 parents and grandparents overseas are already waiting as long as five years for a Canadian Visa to be reunited with their Canadian children and grandchildren.
To meet targets, the Canadian Government has decided to cut family reunification visas by 5,000: from 16,000 a year to 11,000. It is expected that this 30 per cent reduction in visas will compound waiting times.
The Canadian Immigration department maintains that spouses and children of Canadian citizens and permanent residents remain the priority for reunification visas, while parents and grandparents can visit Canada on multiple-entry visas while waiting to be sponsored.
The Canadian Visa Bureau is an independent consulting company specialising in helping people make their Canadan Visa application to the Canadian Embassy.
