Admiral Beez
Superstar
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2011/02/12/canada-immigration-rates.html
New figures indicate the federal government hopes to reduce overall immigration next year by five per cent, mainly by cutting back on family reunification visas.
Figures from Citizenship and Immigration Canada show the government will issue about 11,000 visas this year to parents and grandparents of Canadian residents, down from more than 16,000 last year. Among the hardest hit by the lower immigration targets will be parents and grandparents seeking to join their children in Canada. The figures indicate the government will issue about 11,000 family reunification visas for parents and grandparents overseas, down from more than 16,000 last year.[\quote]
I disagree with the policy of immigrants bringing their extended families to stay in Canada. We want working adults and their children to build Canada, not their non-productive parents. As an immigrant myself, I can't imagine my parents sponsoring my grandparents to move from the UK to Canada so that they can provide free childcare. Of course us Brits have a slightly harsher view on family than some other cultures - my parents would never provide childcare for my kids, I can't even imagine asking them. As for inheritance, that's your hair and eye colour, nothing else. You'll rarely see Canadians of British origin taking in their feeble-minded or aged parents - that's what old folks home are for. So for Brits the idea of bringing your Grandparents to live with you full time is not top of mind when they first emigrate to Canada.
Back on topic, Australia doesn't permit any extended family reunification, and they seem to have a successful immigration system. I'm all for visitors visas so that the children can meet their cousins, grandparents etc., but if they want to emigrate to Canada they must apply like everyone else.