In 2019, I was involved in legal litigation that arose from the flawed launch of the Parent and Grandparent (PGP) Sponsorship program. On the day the PGP program opened, IRCC’s online portal crashed almost immediately, locking out thousands of applicants who had prepared extensively. Alongside Erin Roth, I worked to bring attention to the procedural unfairness of the system and I supported efforts to pursue legal remedies on behalf of affected families.
At the time, I told Global News that the system was very disadvantageous for people without fast internet, those who weren’t as comfortable with the English language, or those who were using the online system for the first time. That experience made it clear that immigration application systems must be designed with accessibility and equity in mind —otherwise, they risk excluding the very individuals they claim to support.
Fast forward to 2025, and we are facing a similar situation. On March 31, IRCC opened the Home Care Worker Immigration pilots for Child Care and Home Support. Once again, IRCC’s online portal crashed, and many caregivers were unable to submit their applications due to being logged out, blocked from uploading documents, or completely unable to access the system. Given that these programs have very limited caps (2,350 online spots and 260 mail-in spots for each stream), the application system’s crash may have deprived many of their only opportunity to apply for permanent residence this year.
As someone who engages in litigation to protect the rights of immigration applicants, I am very concerned about how the Home Care Worker application process was handled. If you feel that you were unfairly prevented from applying due to the system’s failure, I encourage you to reach out. I am currently gathering information and exploring potential legal and advocacy-based responses. Please email info@heronlaw.ca if you were impacted by the crash.
Will Tao, Principal/Canadian Immigration Lawyer
Heron Law Offices
