4.1 Section 2 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations defines ‘social assistance’ as “any benefit in the form of money, goods or services provided to or on behalf of a person by a province under a program of social assistance, including a program of social assistance designated by a province to provide for basic requirements including food, shelter, clothing, fuel, utilities, household supplies, personal requirements and health care not provided by public health care, including dental care and eye care”.
Programs of social assistance designated by British Columbia are listed in clauses 4.2 and 4.3 herein.
4.2 Pursuant to paragraph 133(1) (k) (social assistance) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, an individual will be ineligible to sponsor an application for permanent residence of a foreign national if he or she is in receipt of:
“Income assistance”, “hardship assistance” or a “supplement” under the Employment and Assistance Act (S.B.C. 2002, c. 40)
4.3 Pursuant to paragraph 133(1)(g)(i) and section 135 (default) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, a sponsor is considered to be in default and ineligible to sponsor an application for permanent residence of a foreign national if, during the validity period of a sponsorship undertaking, a previously sponsored person received:
“Income assistance”, “hardship assistance” or a “supplement” under the Employment and Assistance Act (S.B.C. 2002, c.40);
“Disability assistance”, “hardship assistance” or a “supplement” under the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act (S.B.C. 2002, c.41);
“Income assistance” or social services under subsection 2(1) of the former Guaranteed Available Income for Need Act (R.S.B.C. 1979, c. 158);
Income assistance or benefits under section 3 of the former BC Benefits (Income Assistance) Act (R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 27);
Hardship assistance under section 4 of the former BC Benefits (Income Assistance) Act (R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 27);
A youth allowance or benefit under section 4 of the former BC Benefits (Youth Works) Act (R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 28); or
A disability allowance or benefits under section 2 of the former Disability Benefits Program Act (R.S.B.C. 1996, c.97).
