From the website of the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration Canada

January 6, 1999

Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Announces New Immigration Directions

OTTAWA—The new directions for immigration and refugee protection legislation acknowledge the importance of reuniting families and recognize the need to modernize legislation to better reflect the reality of what constitutes a family.

The new directions include proposals which take into consideration the evolution of the Canadian family. Proposed measures would ensure the reunification of close family members, enhance immigration policies related to adoption, and expand the definition of spouse to include common-law and same-sex partners.

In order to allow the reunification of more families and to better reflect the realities of longer child dependency, the age limit for sponsoring a dependent child would increase to under 22 years from the current limit of under 19 years. In addition, it is proposed to make it easier for spouses and dependent children already in Canada to apply for permanent residence from within Canada, as long as those individuals hold legal status in Canada at the time they apply. The government will also consult the provinces on the possibility of decreasing the length of sponsorship of spouses and children, and removing the clause regarding excessive demand on health services.

Canada’s immigration policies related to adoption would also be changed to better protect the interests of children, promote the principle that an adopted child and a biological child should have the same rights, and eliminate, to the extent possible, inequalities in treatment among various adoption cases. As adoption falls under provincial jurisdiction, the government will consult the provinces on the proposed directions.

In order to adjust to social realities and to ensure fair treatment under the legislation, the new directions aim to expand the definition of spouse to include common-law and same-sex couples. The definition of spouse is used to determine both who may be sponsored in the family class and who may accompany the principal applicant in other categories.

While Canada seeks to facilitate family reunification, it is also committed to preserving the integrity of the sponsorship system. It is proposed to introduce measures to prevent further sponsorship when the sponsor fails to honour his or her commitment to support family members, and to introduce strategies for dealing with cases of spousal and family violence.

"Family reunification will remain the cornerstone of Canadian immigration policy. Canada has a long tradition of supporting the reunification of Canadians and permanent residents with their close family members from abroad," said Minister Robillard. "On the one hand, this tradition has enriched the lives of the families and assisted them in achieving self-reliance. On the other hand, it has enriched our society by ensuring social integration and the building of stronger communities."

News releases and the document, "Building on a Strong Foundation for the 21^st Century: New Directions for Immigration and Refugee Policy and Legislation," are available at the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) web site.

The CIC Web site also provides an online form for you to submit your comments. Comments received prior to March 31, 1999 will be considered as new legislation is developed.

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