The minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship (french: Ministre de l'immigration, des réfugiés et de la citoyenneté) is a

minister of the Crown Minister of the Crown is a formal constitutional term used in Commonwealth realms to describe a minister of the reigning sovereign or viceroy. The term indicates that the minister serves at His Majesty's pleasure, and advises the sovereign or ...

in the

Canadian Cabinet The Cabinet of Canada (french: Cabinet du Canada) is a body of ministers of the Crown that, along with the Canadian monarch, and within the tenets of the Westminster system, forms the government of Canada. Chaired by the prime minister, the ...

. The minister is responsible for

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC; french: Immigration, Réfugiés et Citoyenneté Canada)Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is the applied title under the Federal Identity Program since 2015; the legal title is Departm ...

, which is the federal department responsible for

immigration Immigration is the international movement of people to a destination country of which they are not natives or where they do not possess citizenship in order to settle as permanent residents or naturalized citizens. Commuters, tourists, ...

refugee A refugee, conventionally speaking, is a displaced person who has crossed national borders and who cannot or is unwilling to return home due to well-founded fear of persecution.

and

citizenship Citizenship is a "relationship between an individual and a state to which the individual owes allegiance and in turn is entitled to its protection". Each state determines the conditions under which it will recognize persons as its citizens, and ...

issues in Canada. The current minister is Sean Fraser. 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''. As of 2 July 2013, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship portfolio inherited primary responsibility for

Passport Canada Passport Canada was an independent, special operating agency of the Government of Canada with bureaucratic oversight provided through Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. Formerly known as the Passport Office prior to June 2006, Passp ...

and the administration of the

Canadian Passport Order Passport Canada was an independent, special operating agency of the Government of Canada with bureaucratic oversight provided through Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. Formerly known as the Passport Office prior to June 2006, Passp ...

from the Foreign Affairs and International Trade portfolio. The

Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada Immigration is the international movement of people to a destination country of which they are not natives or where they do not possess citizenship in order to settle as permanent residents or naturalized citizens. Commuters, tourists, a ...

, though independent, also reports to the minister.

Historical overview

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. 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. 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 The Minister of Multiculturalism and Citizenship was an office in the Cabinet of Canada from 1991 to 1996 and from 2013 and 2015. It was superseded in 1996 and again in 2015 by the Minister of Canadian Heritage. In 2019, Bardish Chagger Bard ...

was created, adopting responsibility over citizenship matters. This office lasted until 1994, when the post of minister of citizenship and immigration was resuscitated by the ''Department of Citizenship and Immigration Act'', 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. As of 2 July 2013, the Citizenship and Immigration portfolio inherited primary responsibility for

and the administration of the

from the Foreign Affairs and International Trade portfolio. On 4 November 2015, the name of the department has changed from Citizenship and Immigration Canada to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

List of ministers

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.Citizenship and Immigration (1950-01-18 – 1966-09-30)
." ''ParlInfo''. Ottawa:

Library of Parliament The Library of Parliament (french: Bibliothèque du Parlement) is the main information repository and research resource for the Parliament of Canada. The main branch of the library sits at the rear of the Centre Block on Parliament Hill in Otta ...

. Retrieved 2020 October 30. 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), succeeding the minister of employment and immigration.Citizenship and Immigration (1994-06-23 – )
." ''ParlInfo''. Ottawa:

. Retrieved 2020 October 30. 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

. The following immigration ministers are those who assumed the position under the office that was created in 1994.

Preceding offices responsible for immigration

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)

The minister of immigration and colonization was an office in the

Cabinet of Canada The Cabinet of Canada (french: Cabinet du Canada) is a body of ministers of the Crown that, along with the Canadian monarch, and within the tenets of the Westminster system, forms the government of Canada. Chaired by the prime minister, the ...

from 1917 to 1936, superseded by the

minister of mines and resources The position of Minister of Mines and Resources was a cabinet portfolio in Canada from 1936 to 1950. The mines portfolio had previously been that of the Minister of Mines, which was a portfolio adjunct to other ministries such as Inland Revenue ...

. 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).

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 An interior minister (sometimes called a minister of internal affairs or minister of home affairs) is a cabinet official position that is responsible for internal affairs, such as public security, civil registration and identification, emergency ...

, minister of mines, and superintendent-general of Indian affairs. The last minister of immigration and colonization,

Thomas Alexander Crerar Thomas Alexander Crerar, (June 17, 1876 – April 11, 1975) was a western Canadian politician and a leader of the short-lived Progressive Party of Canada. He was born in Molesworth, Ontario, and moved to Manitoba at a young age. Early career ...

, remained in office under the new title of minister of mines and resources.

Citizenship and Immigration (1950–66)

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. 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).

Minister of Manpower and Immigration (1966–77)

Minister of Manpower and Immigration was a former position in the

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.

Minister of Employment and Immigration (1977–96)

The minister of employment and immigration was an office in the

, in operation from 1977 to 1996, and was first held by

Bud Cullen Jack Sydney George "Bud" Cullen, (April 20, 1927 – July 5, 2005) was a Canadian Federal Court judge and politician. Early years Born in Creighton Mine, Ontario, Cullen was given the nickname of Bud by his mother when he was a young boy ...

, 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 Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC; french: Immigration, Réfugiés et Citoyenneté Canada)Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is the applied title under the Federal Identity Program since 2015; the legal title is Departm ...

.Canada. Employment and Immigration Canada (Department)
." Library of Congress.

References

{{Cabinet of Canada Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Immigration to Canada

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by to ...