Canada halts parent-grandparent PR sponsorships: A blow to Bangladeshi families

For decades, permanent residents in Canada have been able to sponsor their parents and grandparents for permanent residency (PR) under the Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship (PGP) programme. Not anymore!

Canada's Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced that it will no longer accept new applications under this scheme from 2025 onwards, leaving many Bangladeshi families in uncertainty.

The IRCC clarified that while it will continue processing applications submitted in 2024, no new applications will be entertained under the PGP programme in the upcoming year. Previously, the initiative allowed Canadian permanent residents to bring their parents and grandparents to live with them permanently.

Instead, families can consider the Super Visa programme, which enables relatives to stay in Canada for up to five consecutive years.

The IRCC's decision stems from a broader effort to curb immigration numbers, which will see a 20% reduction in PR allocations in 2025.

For 2025, the IRCC plans to settle 24,500 individuals under the PGP programme, but this number will sharply decrease in subsequent years.

Stricter Immigration Policies

Historically, Canada has been known for its immigrant-friendly policies. But Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's administration has shifted its stance, aiming to address the strain on housing and healthcare systems caused by rapid population growth.

Reports from Toronto-based media suggest that over 1.2 million temporary residents might be compelled to leave Canada by 2025 as a result of stricter immigration rules.

Besides, annual PR quotas, which previously allowed 500,000 new immigrants, will reduce to 395,000 in 2025, 380,000 in 2026, and 365,000 in 2027.

Of the reduced quota, only 94,500 visas will be allocated for family sponsorships in 2025, with 70,000 reserved for spouses and children of PR holders.

Impact on Bangladeshi Residents

The suspension of the PGP programme has left many Bangladeshi families in a precarious position. Prosenjit Das Joy, a 35-year-old from Keraniganj, Dhaka, has been working at a Canadian restaurant for five years. He shared, "Getting PR is now exceedingly difficult due to stricter point requirements. Many Bangladeshis without PR status are facing an uncertain future."

Similarly, Salahuddin Bacchu, a businessman in Canada for over a decade, recounted that earlier, it was much easier to bring family members to Canada. "Today, the process is more complicated. Thousands apply for PGP every year, but only a handful get selected through the lottery," he said.

Bangladeshi Diaspora in Canada

According to the Bangladeshi High Commission in Ottawa, over 100,000 Bangladeshis currently reside in Canada, with significant immigration starting in the 1980s. Over the past two decades, this number has increased substantially.

While Bangladeshi immigrants have historically faced few challenges securing jobs or PR, the tightening of immigration policies is now making it harder for families to reunite. The halt in PGP sponsorships has further compounded difficulties for those who had hoped to bring their loved ones to Canada.

Government's Justification

The Trudeau government has framed these policy changes as necessary to control population growth and alleviate pressures on public services. Over the past decade, Canada's immigrant population has surged, with many attributing this to the liberal policies introduced in 2015. However, as housing shortages and healthcare access become pressing concerns, the government is determined to impose stricter immigration controls.

A Bleak Outlook for Families

For many Bangladeshi families, these developments represent a significant setback. The suspension of the PGP programme, coupled with reduced PR allocations, will leave numerous families separated and grappling with uncertainty about their future in Canada.

With immigration policies expected to tighten further, the coming years could prove challenging for aspiring immigrants and their families.