I applied for visitor visa for my parents in 2016 saying that they want to visit canada in the same year i.e 2016
But due to personal problems they couldn't travel to canada for visit in 2016.
Now in 2018 they are planning to visit canada. Can they use same visitor visa as they got visitor visa until there expiry of passport and still valid now.
I believe they are allowed to travel to Canada provided that their visas are valid. I don't think the border officer knows what you said in your application or that they originally wanted to travel in 2016. Travel plans change all the time. That is not a crime. As long as their visa is valid and as long as they leave before the visa expires, they can travel.