Earlier this month, the Ontario Court of Appeal ordered governments to stop automatically charging individuals, who have sponsored relatives to come to Canada as permanent residents, for social assistance debt sustained by those relatives.

Under the Family Class Sponsorship program, a Canadian citizen or permanent resident can sponsor close family members to become Canadian permanent residents, as long as both the sponsor and the sponsored persons fulfill certain requirements.

As part of the application process, the sponsor signs an agreement that he or she will provide for the basic requirements of the sponsored persons for a specified length of time, depending on the relationship between the sponsor and the family members. Should the sponsored persons require social assistance during this period, the sponsor must repay the federal and provincial governments for any benefits their family members received.

In the case before the Court, eight individuals, who had each sponsored a relative for Canadian permanent residency, claimed that extenuating circumstances beyond their control prevented them from honouring their sponsorship obligations, and applied to be discharged from those obligations.

The Court held that Canada and Ontario owe sponsors a duty of procedural fairness when enforcing sponsorship debt, and ordered the creation of a process that will allow sponsors to explain their personal and financial circumstances, which in some cases may allow them to avoid paying sponsorship debt.

This decision has caused considerable debate in Canada and it is uncertain, at this time, if the case will be appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada.

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• Court rules sponsors not automatically accountable for family members’ social assistance debt

Canada’s banking system is renowned for its stability.  And Canada is recognized for its superior quality of life.  Through the Canadian Immigrant Investor Program, you and your family could qualify for fast-track Canadian Permanent Residency…and your money is secure.

The Immigrant Investor Program, a category of Canadian Federal Business Immigration, is an important option for wealthy business people who wish to immigrate to Canada.

To qualify as an investor, you will be required to make a C$400,000 investment in Canada.  Your funds will be managed by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), and will be returned to you after about five years, without interest.  In the meantime, your investment will be used by provincial governments to create jobs, boost regional economies, and build a stronger Canada.

In uncertain financial times, Canada is a solid place to invest your money.  The World Economic Forum has recently given Canada top prize for its “soundness of banks” among 134 countries, many of whom are currently looking to Canada as a model as they attempt to restructure their unstable banking systems.  Additionally, Canadian securities firms are currently welcoming top talent from major financial hubs such as London and New York, who are flocking to Toronto where job prospects for bankers and traders are much more promising.

In addition to the C$400,000 investment requirement, Immigrant Investor applicants must demonstrate that they have at least two years of business management experience and a minimum net worth of C$800,000.  The fair market value of all your assets and the assets of your spouse or common-law partner may be combined (minus your combined liabilities) to reach this net worth requirement.

You will also need to obtain at least 35 points on a selection grid based on your education, business experience, English/French language ability, age, and adaptability, and you will need to satisfy medical and security requirements.

Federal Business immigration applications receive priority processing; however, processing times vary depending on which visa office your application will be submitted to.

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