As we look at ensuring that parents and grandparents have the opportunity to spend a longer time in Canada as visitors, rather than coming through as permanent residents, our feeling is that we would like to ensure that this movement does not pose an undue hardship on the Canadian taxpayer, with respect to health or social services. Currently, it's rare that a parent or grandparent, or any visitor, would be asked to provide proof of medical insurance for a stay in Canada. But when you're looking at the possibility of someone coming for as long as 24 months at a given time, our view is that we should have the information necessary to know that there will be no need for a call on medical resources in Canada, as the applicant or their family would be covering those costs through private insurance.
On November 17th, 2011. See this statement in context.