Surjit Bhandal is staying home.
The 84-year-old former Langford resident, who has lived under the cloud of possible deportation back to India since 2010, got the news this week that sheB次元官网网址檒l be allowed to remain living with her nephews in Greater Victoria.
Esquimalt Juan de Fuca MP Randall Garrison, who has been working on the familyB次元官网网址檚 behalf since early 2012, is pleased sheB次元官网网址檒l be able to live out her life in Canada with family members she has raised.
B次元官网网址淟ike all too many families, the Bhandals have had to live with uncertainty for far too long before getting a decision,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t is sad that it took such intense lobbying and nearly three years to get this positive decision.B次元官网网址�
Despite raising her nephews because their mother was severely disabled, BhandalB次元官网网址檚 nephews were unable to sponsor her to Canada, beginning a years-long battle to keep the family together.
The family, now living in Saanich, has received increasing support from the community including the Sikh temple, immigrant and refugee organizations and more than 5,000 people who sent letters lobbying for her permanent residency, granted this week by the federal Immigration Ministry.
B次元官网网址淭he support of the community for the Bhandal family played an important part in this final positive outcome,B次元官网网址� Garrison said. B次元官网网址淎nd I thank the community for such a strong show of Canadian values of compassion and fairness.B次元官网网址�
