Minister_of_Citizenship_and_Immigration_(Canada)
Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Minister in the Cabinet of Canada
The minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship (French: Ministre de l'immigration, des réfugiés et de la citoyenneté) is a minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet. The minister is responsible for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, which is the federal department responsible for immigration, refugee and citizenship issues in Canada.
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| Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship | |
|---|---|
| Ministre de l'Immigration, des Réfugiés et de la Citoyenneté | |
| Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada | |
| Style | The Honourable |
| Member of | |
| Reports to | |
| Appointer | Monarch (represented by the governor general);[3] on the advice of the prime minister[4] |
| Term length | At His Majesty's pleasure |
| Constituting instrument | Department of Citizenship and Immigration Act |
| Precursor | |
| Inaugural holder | Sergio Marchi |
| Formation | 30 June 1994 |
| Deputy | Deputy Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada |
| Salary | CA$269,800 (2019)[5] |
| Website | www.cic.gc.ca |
The current minister is Marc Miller.[6]
Prior to the current position, the portfolios responsible for immigration in Canada throughout history were titled: Immigration and Colonization (1917–36), Mines and Resources (1936–50), Citizenship and Immigration (1950–66), Manpower and Immigration (1966–77), and of Employment and Immigration (1977–96). The office as it exists today was created in 1994 by the Department of Citizenship and Immigration Act.[7][8]
As of 2 July 2013, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship portfolio inherited primary responsibility for Passport Canada and the administration of the Canadian Passport Order from the Foreign Affairs and International Trade portfolio.[9] The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, though independent, also reports to the minister.[7]
There have been several offices throughout history responsible for immigration in Canada.
From 1917 to 1936, the office responsible for citizenship and immigration in Canada was the minister of immigration and colonization.[7] The portfolios thereafter fell under the ministers of mines and resources and of reconstruction and supply until 1950, when the office of the minister of citizenship and immigration was established.[10]
In 1966, the Citizenship and Immigration ministry was largely replaced by that of the minister of manpower and immigration, who would keep responsibility over immigration until 1977. From then on, the immigration portfolio would fall under the minister of employment and immigration until 1996.
In January 1991, the office of minister of multiculturalism and citizenship was created, adopting responsibility over citizenship matters.[7] This office lasted until 1994, when the post of minister of citizenship and immigration was resuscitated by the Department of Citizenship and Immigration Act,[8] substantially revamping the immigration and citizenship portfolios. In 2008, the office was renamed to the minister of citizenship, immigration and multiculturalism, only to again drop the multiculturalism portfolio in 2013.[7]
As of 2 July 2013, the Citizenship and Immigration portfolio inherited primary responsibility for Passport Canada and the administration of the Canadian Passport Order from the Foreign Affairs and International Trade portfolio.[9]
On 4 November 2015, the name of the department has changed from Citizenship and Immigration Canada to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.[7]
The office of minister of citizenship and immigration was created in 1950 by "Statute 13 George VI, c. 16". That office was abolished in 1966, and replaced by the minister of manpower and immigration.[10] The office responsible for immigration in Canada would again be titled minister of citizenship and immigration," with its creation in 1994 by the Department of Citizenship and Immigration Act (Statute 42–43 Elizabeth II, c. 31),[8] succeeding the minister of employment and immigration.[7]
Though having its name changed in 2015 to minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship, the office created in 1994 as the minister of citizenship and immigration" is still the one that is currently in effect and is responsible for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.[7]
The following immigration ministers are those who assumed the position under the office that was created in 1994.[7]
| No. | Portrait | Name | Term of office | Political party | Ministry | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ministers of Citizenship and Immigration (1994–2015) | ||||||
| 9 | Sergio Marchi | June 30, 1994 | January 24, 1996 | Liberal | 26 (Chrétien) | |
| 10 | Lucienne Robillard | January 25, 1996 | August 2, 1999 | |||
| 11 | Elinor Caplan | August 3, 1999 | January 14, 2002 | |||
| 12 |  |
Denis Coderre | January 15, 2002 | December 11, 2003 | ||
| 13 |  |
Judy Sgro | December 12, 2003 | January 13, 2005 | 27 (Martin) | |
| 14 |  |
Joe Volpe | January 14, 2005 | February 5, 2006 | ||
| 15 |  |
Monte Solberg | February 6, 2006 | January 3, 2007 | Conservative | 28 (Harper) |
| 16 |  |
Diane Finley | January 4, 2007 | October 29, 2008 | ||
| 17 |  |
Jason Kenney | October 30, 2008 | July 15, 2013 | ||
| 18 |  |
Chris Alexander | July 15, 2013 | November 3, 2015 | ||
| Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship | ||||||
| 19 |  |
John McCallum | November 4, 2015 | January 10, 2017 | Liberal | 29 (J. Trudeau) |
| 20 |  |
Ahmed Hussen | January 10, 2017 | November 20, 2019 | ||
| 21 | .jpg) |
Marco Mendicino | November 20, 2019 | October 26, 2021 | ||
| 22 | .jpg) |
Sean Fraser | October 26, 2021 | July 26, 2023 | ||
| 23 | .jpg) |
Marc Miller | July 26, 2023 | Incumbent | ||
| Key: | ||||||
There have been several offices throughout history responsible for immigration in Canada.
Prior to the current position, the offices responsible for immigration in Canada throughout history include the minister of immigration and colonization (1917–1936), minister of mines and resources (1936–1950), minister of citizenship and immigration (1950–1966), minister of manpower and immigration (1966–1977), minister of employment and immigration (1977–1996).
Minister of Immigration and Colonization (1917–36)
| Minister of Immigration and Colonization | |
|---|---|
| Member of | Cabinet of Canada |
| Formation | 1917 |
| First holder | James Alexander Calder |
| Final holder | Thomas Alexander Crerar |
| Abolished | 1936 |
The minister of immigration and colonization was an office in the Cabinet of Canada from 1917 to 1936, superseded by the minister of mines and resources.[11]
After 1950, the position has been succeeded by minister of citizenship and immigration (1950–1966), minister of manpower and immigration (1966–1977), and minister of employment and immigration (1977–1996).
| Ministers of Immigration and Colonization | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Name | Term of office | Ministry | |
| 1. | James Alexander Calder | October 12, 1917 | July 10, 1920 | under Borden |
| James Alexander Calder (cont’d) | July 10, 1920 | September 20, 1921 | under Meighen | |
| 3. | John Wesley Edwards | September 21, 1921 | December 29, 1921 | |
| * | Hewitt Bostock (acting) | January 3, 1922 | February 2, 1922 | under King |
| * | Charles Stewart (acting) | February 20, 1922 | August 16, 1923 | |
| 4. | James Alexander Robb | August 17, 1923 | September 4, 1925 | |
| 5. | George Newcombe Gordon | September 7, 1925 | November 12, 1925 | |
| * | Charles Stewart (acting) | November 13, 1925 | June 28, 1926 | |
| * | Robert James Manion (acting) | June 29, 1926 | July 12, 1926 | under Meighen |
| * | Henry Lumley Drayton (acting) | July 13, 1926 | September 25, 1926 | |
| 6. | Robert Forke | September 26, 1926 | December 29, 1929 | under King |
| * | Charles Stewart (acting) | December 30, 1929 | June 26, 1930 | |
| 7. | Ian Alistair Mackenzie | June 27, 1930 | August 7, 1930 | |
| 8. | Wesley Ashton Gordon | August 7, 1930 | October 23, 1935 | under Bennett |
| 9. | Thomas Alexander Crerar | October 23, 1935 | November 30, 1936 | under King |
Minister of Mines and Resources (1936–50)
The minister of mines and resources was a cabinet portfolio from 1936 to 1950 that had absorbed the responsibilities belonging to the offices of minister of immigration and colonization, as well as of the minister of the interior, minister of mines, and superintendent-general of Indian affairs. The last minister of immigration and colonization, Thomas Alexander Crerar, remained in office under the new title of minister of mines and resources.
Citizenship and Immigration (1950–66)
| Minister of Citizenship and Immigration (1950–1966) | |
|---|---|
| Member of | Cabinet of Canada |
| Constituting instrument | Statute 13 George VI, c. 16 |
| Formation | 18 January 1950 |
| First holder | Walter Edward Harris |
| Final holder | Jean Marchand |
| Abolished | 1 October 1966 |
The office of minister of citizenship and immigration came in force on 18 January 1950, and would be abolished and replaced by the minister of manpower and immigration as of 1 October 1966.[10]
Following the minister of manpower and immigration (1966–1977) and the minister of employment and immigration (1977–1996), the office responsible for immigration in Canada would again be titled minister of citizenship and immigration, which was created in 1994 and is currently in effect (though changing its name to the minister immigration, refugees and citizenship as of 2015).
| Ministers of Citizenship and Immigration (1950–1966) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Portrait | Name | Term of office | Political party | Ministry | |
| 1 |  |
Walter Harris | January 18, 1950 | June 30, 1954 | Liberal | 17 (St. Laurent) |
| 2 | Jack Pickersgill | July 1, 1954 | June 21, 1957 | |||
| – |  |
Davie Fulton (Acting) | June 21, 1957 | May 11, 1958 | Progressive Conservative | 18 (Diefenbaker) |
| 3 |  |
Ellen Fairclough | May 12, 1958 | August 8, 1962 | ||
| 4 | Dick Bell | August 9, 1962 | April 22, 1963 | |||
| 5 | Guy Favreau | April 22, 1963 | February 2, 1964 | Liberal | 19 (Pearson) | |
| 6 | René Tremblay | February 3, 1964 | February 14, 1965 | |||
| 7 | John Robert Nicholson | February 15, 1965 | December 17, 1965 | |||
| 8 |  |
Jean Marchand | December 18, 1965 | September 30, 1966 | ||
| Key: | ||||||
Minister of Manpower and Immigration (1966–77)
| Minister of Manpower and Immigration | |
|---|---|
| Member of | Cabinet of Canada |
| Constituting instrument | Statute 14–15 Elizabeth II, c. 25 |
| Formation | 1 October 1966 |
| First holder | Jean Marchand |
| Final holder | Bud Cullen |
| Abolished | 14 August 1977 |
Minister of Manpower and Immigration was a former position in the Cabinet of Canada from 1966 to 1977. The position was created after the minister of citizenship and immigration was dissolved in 1966. It was abolished and replaced with the minister of employment and immigration in 1977.[12]
| Ministers of Manpower and Immigration | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Name | Term of office | Ministry | |
| 1. | Jean Marchand | October 1, 1966 | April 20, 1968 | under Lester Pearson |
| April 20, 1968 | July 5, 1968 | under Pierre Trudeau | ||
| 2. | Allan MacEachen | July 5, 1968 | September 23, 1970 | |
| 3. | Otto Lang | September 24, 1970 | January 27, 1972 | |
| 4. | Bryce Mackasey | January 28, 1972 | November 26, 1972 | |
| 5. | Bob Andras | November 27, 1972 | September 13, 1976 | |
| 6. | Bud Cullen | September 14, 1976 | August 14, 1977 | |
Minister of Employment and Immigration (1977–96)
The minister of employment and immigration was an office in the Cabinet of Canada, in operation from 1977 to 1996, and was first held by Bud Cullen, who continued from his preceding role as the minister of manpower and immigration.
On 12 July 1996, the office of the minister of employment and immigration was abolished and replaced with the office of minister of human resources development. The portfolio for immigration was transferred to the office of minister of citizenship and immigration following the reorganization of the government and formation of the department for Citizenship and Immigration Canada.[13][11][14]
| Ministers of Employment and Immigration | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Name | Term of office | Political party | Ministry | |
| 1 | Bud Cullen | August 15, 1977 | June 3, 1979 | Liberal | 20 (P. E. Trudeau) |
| 2 | Ron Atkey | June 4, 1979 | March 2, 1980 | Progressive Conservative | 21 (Clark) |
| 3 | Lloyd Axworthy | March 3, 1980 | August 11, 1983 | Liberal | 22 (P. E. Trudeau) |
| 4 | John Roberts | August 12, 1983 | June 29, 1984 | ||
| June 30, 1984 | September 16, 1984 | 23 (Turner) | |||
| 5 | Flora MacDonald | September 17, 1984 | June 29, 1986 | Progressive Conservative | 24 (Mulroney) |
| 6 | Benoît Bouchard | June 30, 1986 | March 30, 1988 | ||
| 7 | Barbara McDougall | March 31, 1988 | April 20, 1991 | ||
| 8 | Bernard Valcourt | April 21, 1991 | June 24, 1993 | ||
| June 25, 1993 | November 3, 1993 | 25 (Campbell) | |||
| – | Lloyd Axworthy (second time) | November 4, 1993 | January 24, 1996 | Liberal | 26 (Chrétien) |
| 9 | Douglas Young | January 25, 1996 | July 11, 1996 | ||
| Key: | |||||
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