A study has been made by MADINE VANDERPLAAT, HOWARD RAMOS, AND YOKO YOSHIDA in 2012, that has looked fairly at the contribution or not of parent visas in Canada. From that article here some keys sections:
“The position opposing large scale family reunification policies is based on an economic imperative that contends that while families may be good for the wellbeing of individuals, family class immigration may not be in the best economic interests of the state (Avci 1999; Borjas 1999; Collacott 2002, 2006; Frances 2002; Grubel 2005). In particular, sponsored parents and/or grandparents are viewed as potential “burdens” on Canadian society, by virtue of their diminished capacity for economic contributions and increased potential for stressing the social welfare and healthcare systems (Stoffman 2002).” …
“The humanitarian position, by contrast, derives its moral imperative from Canada’s commitment to a number of international conventions that recognize migrants’ rights to join or be joined by their families. Proponents of this position include settlement sector NGO’s, immigrant advocacy groups and social justice organizations among others. The humanitarian position often also argues that not only is access to family a right, it is also fundamental for the social, physical, psychological and spiritual well-being of newcomer populations (Canadian Council for Refugees 2004; Deshaw 2006; KAIROS 2005; OCASI 2005).” …
“Researchers from this perspective argue that not only is the family good for the well-being of the individual, it is good for society as a whole because access to family relationships and networks can support and mitigate the settlement and integration process (Dench 2006; Deshaw 2006; Khoo 2003; Kofman 2004; Li 2003a; Pratt 2006). By providing child care and/or labour to family owned businesses, sponsored parents and/or grandparents can contribute to the overall economic well-being of the family and support the educational pursuits and labour market activities of other family members. Through volunteerism, informal networking and kinship work, sponsored parents and/or grandparents can also contribute to community cohesion and social capital formation which can be particularly important in the absence of more formal support systems and settlement services (Lewis-Watts 2006; Telegdi 2006). As Anderson (2001) points out, in some cultures grandparents also play an important intermediary role in intergenerational conflicts. In addition, the possibility of sponsoring relatives may be an important element in attracting and retaining immigrants (Deshaw 2006; Khoo 2003).” …
“Even a basic analysis such as this provides evidence against two common misconceptions regarding age and productivity. Sponsored parents and/or grandparents are not by definition “seniors,” nor are they likely to be retired (a status which does not in and of itself preclude economic and social contributions). Moreover, we consistently find, across different main activities, that female immigrants play an important role in social realms. They were more likely than their male counterparts to report homemaking and caring for family as their main activities—all of which have indirect effects on the economic performance of other immigrants and the wider Canadian society.” …
“Hence, there is evidence to support the contention that further research is warranted to establish how sponsored parents and grandparents are not only contributing to the best interests of the family but also, through their social and cultural reproductive activities, to the best interests of the state.” …
“Sponsored parents and/or grandparents are not as old as many suspect, they tend to live in similar households as other immigrants and, as our analysis of their contributions suggest, they overwhelmingly—two thirds—work or are self-employed, engage in homemaking, care for family, or engage in other activities.”
MADINE VANDERPLAAT is Professor of Sociology at Saint Mary’s University. Her research and publications focus on the health and well-being of vulnerable populations; citizen participation and community capacity building; and collaborative research and policy development.
HOWARD RAMOS is Associate Professor of Sociology at Dalhousie University. He researches social movements, immigration, Aboriginal mobilization, human rights and issues of social justice. Y
OKO YOSHIDA is Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology at Dalhousie University and the Co-Academic Director of the Atlantic Research Data Centre. Her research interests include immigration and integration of immigrants in Canada, race and ethnic relations and social inequality.
You can read the full research in this link.