From Wiki

• The Canadian immigration system does not have a category for retirees.

• A Canadian citizen or permanent resident who is living in Canada can, however, sponsor a parent or grandparent as a Family Class applicant.

• But be aware that the application process takes about five years and that the sponsor incurs significant financial obligations.

• Please read the BE Wiki article entitled [Family Class Immigration - Canada].

• It also might be helpful to read the Wiki article entitled Living in Canada as a Visitor.

• If you have an adult child in Canada who could sponsor your permanent residence application to Canada -- or, conversely, if you are an adult who would like to sponsor his/her parent's PR application -- there are some workarounds that you may be able to implement. Please see the BE forum discussion thread entitled [Retiring to Canada].

• Some of us on the BE forum got excited when Alberta added a Family Stream to its Immigrant Nominee Program (equivalent of Provincial Nominee Program) on June 19th 2008. However, the excitement died down, at least insofar as retirees were concerned, when we discovered that candidates had to be between the ages of 21 and 45.