1. MADINE VANDERPLAAT, PHD SAINT MARY’S UNIVERSITY HOWARD RAMOS, PHD DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY What do Sponsored Parents and Grandparents Contribute?

2. Why Focus on Parents and Grandparents? Vulnerable population Potential for development of alternative discourse of “integration”

3. Why Under Researched? “Family” as gendered social space Privileging of economic measurements of integration outcomes Focus on the individual as unit of analysis rather than the family

4. Basis for Criticism Increased pressure on health care system Weak economic performance (low tax base) Over reliance on government pensions Economic pressure on sponsors Reduction in level of diversity

5. Assumed Benefits Improved quality of psycho-social life for immigrant families Increased access to financial resources Increased childcare and household support Increased capacity for development of social capital

6. What do We Know? 2002200520082010 #Parents/Grandparents22,24312,47516,59715,322 % of Family Class35.719.725.325.4 % of Total Immigrants9.74.86.75.5

7. Methodology Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Canada  Wave 1 – 6 months  Wave 2 - 2 years  Wave 3 - 4 years

8. Sponsored Parents/Grandparents By Age Age CategoryPer cent 44 years or younger1.12 45-54 years25.38 55-64 years41.68 65 years and older31.82

9. Parents/Grandparents by Main Activity Sponsored Parents/Grandparents Worked at a job or business39.82% Homemaker11.97% Student1.36% Retired27.01% Caring for family members16.68% Other**3.16% Total100.00% *This table is based on data from Wave 2 of the LSIC and excludes cases with "Don't know", "Refused", or "Not Stated" ** "Other" includes: "Looking for work" "Starting a business", "Doing volunteer work", "No main activity", "Other"

10. Next steps… Account for sex, age, and occupation Examine the role of chain migration Look at contributions to families Examine contributions to ethnic communities Analyze usage of social welfare and health services Develop family migration model