Canada immigrants must support their sponsored relatives

Canada, 15th June: The latest Supreme Court’s decision has called all the immigrants in Canada to offer support to the relatives they sponsor.

The decision announced on 10th June, 2011 by Supreme Court of Canada states clearly that Ontario and federal governments must look for submissions of families offering sponsorship to their relatives in Canada but found to be defaulting on their undertakings to make sure that sponsored relatives are not collecting social service claims.

Future Canada governments must consider submission--Future Canadian governments need to consider submissions by those having extraordinary conditions. Representing five out of eight sponsors, Lucas Lung of Lerners LLP, said that sponsors will be allowed to make submissions with regard to federal government obligations for considering their special conditions.

The Supreme Court decision maintained that debts must not be forgiven but could be deferred after considering special circumstances of the sponsor. The latest Supreme Court ruling extending right to the provincial as well as federal governments for recouping their losses from sponsors in Canada is a great relief.

It, inevitably, cuts the risk involved with regard to a rogue relative on the taxpayer, states Mr. Justice Ian Binnie. Children, spouses, grandparents and parents are allowed to be sponsored by Canada permanent residents under the Canada immigration program for a period of three years.

The immigration program is far more liberal than the family immigration and sponsorship programs of other nations like the US where only US citizens are allowed to offer family sponsorships.

Sponsors responsible for their relatives—The ruling by Supreme Court asserts that all sponsors are responsible for their relatives immigrating to Canada irrespective of the changes conditions. Hence, the new ruling is a wake-up call for all sponsors in Canada to exercise due care regarding financial results in case of any breakdown of relationships, states an , immigration lawyer based in Toronto, Sergio Karas.

This clearly means that sponsors can no longer claim an excuse in case of being cheated by a deceitful partner in Canada. They need to be careful to weigh various contractual and legal conditions before accepting to sponsor any relative to come in Canada.

So, once, the relative is in Canada, there is no escape from obligation for a Canada immigrant.