Close X
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
ADVT 
National

Online Parents And Grandparents-Sponsor Application Discriminatory, Immigration Lawyers Say

Darpan News Des The Canadian Press, 29 Jan, 2019 07:00 PM

    OTTAWA — A new first-come-first-served online application for immigrants seeking to sponsor their parents and grandparents to come to Canada is being condemned as "profoundly discriminatory" after the program opened and closed in less than 10 minutes on Monday.


    All 27,000 openings for the family-reunification program in 2019 were spoken for within minutes of the application form's going live online Monday, sparking outcry from disappointed would-be applicants.


    Matthew Genest, a spokesman for Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen, says an initial analysis shows no technical problems with the system.


    He says anti-bot features were also used to ensure all applications were legitimate and not from automated computer programs grabbing spots faster than humans could.


    Genest says with over 100,000 people competing for 27,000 spots, there was simply more demand than there were spaces.


    But immigration lawyer Clifford McCarten is among many now raising concern about the fairness of access to the program, as only those with reliable Internet access, quick typing skills and good understanding of English or French would have had any hope of success.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Kilometres-long Police Pursuit Ends With Spike Belt And Arrest In Langley, B.C.

    Kilometres-long Police Pursuit Ends With Spike Belt And Arrest In Langley, B.C.
    Police say they have a man in custody after a police pursuit through the Fraser Valley and into Metro Vancouver.  

    Kilometres-long Police Pursuit Ends With Spike Belt And Arrest In Langley, B.C.

    Lotto Multimillionaire Michelle De Roma From Surrey, BC, Says Jackpot Win An 'Amazing Blessing'

    A woman from Surrey, B.C., has claimed a Lotto Max prize of $39.5 million and is thinking about a trip to Rome.

    Lotto Multimillionaire Michelle De Roma From Surrey, BC, Says Jackpot Win An 'Amazing Blessing'

    Vancouver Police Searching For Convict Who Failed To Return To Halfway House

    Vancouver Police are asking for the public’s help in locating a federal offender wanted Canada-wide for failing to return to his halfway-house on New Year’s Eve.

    Vancouver Police Searching For Convict Who Failed To Return To Halfway House

    Two Men Charged In Shooting Aimed At Home In Surrey, B.C.

    Two Men Charged In Shooting Aimed At Home In Surrey, B.C.
    Charges have been laid against two men in what police allege was a targeted shooting on a home in Surrey, B.C., related to a personal dispute.

    Two Men Charged In Shooting Aimed At Home In Surrey, B.C.

    Vancouver Home Sales Fall To Lowest Total Since 2000, Detached Home Prices Down

    Vancouver Home Sales Fall To Lowest Total Since 2000, Detached Home Prices Down
    The total number of homes sold in Metro Vancouver in 2018 fell to its lowest level since 2000 as detached home prices fell nearly eight per cent over the course of the year.

    Vancouver Home Sales Fall To Lowest Total Since 2000, Detached Home Prices Down

    B.C. Prof Hopes Students' Ideas To Retrofit Clothing Bins Will Prevent Deaths

    Jeremy Hunka of Union Gospel Mission in Vancouver said the deaths of five people in British Columbia, four of which are still being investigated by the BC Coroners Service, are unacceptable.

    B.C. Prof Hopes Students' Ideas To Retrofit Clothing Bins Will Prevent Deaths