Marc Miller Marc Miller Takes Canada's Immigration Minister 2023
Marc Miller, Canadaโs new immigration minister, a former Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, a role meant to support the self-determination of Canadaโs Indigenous people.ย
Sean Fraser, Canadaโs former Immigration minister has now become the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities.
A cabinet comprises ministers appointed by Canadaโs Prime Minister, entrusted with the responsibility of advancing and effectively communicating the federal governmentโs policy priorities. Canadian Prime Ministers often engage in the practice of shuffling their cabinets approximately every two years. The motivations behind this shuffle encompass replacing underperforming ministers, elevating those who have demonstrated exemplary performance, and allowing the government to rejuvenate its policies and public communications.
The last major cabinet shuffle occurred inย October 2021, following theย federal electionย that year. As part of that shuffle, Fraser was appointedย Canadaโs Immigration Minister and the head of the Department ofย Immigration, Refugees and Citizenships Canadaย (IRCC).
Trudeau assumed office as Canada’s Prime Minister in November 2015, and during his tenure, the country has actively pursued higher immigration levels, reflecting a more assertive approach towards immigration policies.
Before Trudeau’s term, Canada used to welcome approximately 250,000 new permanent residents annually. However, when Trudeau assumed office, this figure rose to 300,000 per year, and shortly before the pandemic, it further increased to 340,000 per year. Remarkably, even amid the challenges posed by the pandemic, Canada elevated its targets, aiming to admit over 400,000 new permanent residents each year. Looking ahead, under the Immigration Levels Plan 2023-2025, Canada is setting its sights on a goal of 500,000 annual permanent residence landings by 2025.
The drive to achieve substantially higher immigration levels in Canada is fueled by two key factors: an aging population and a declining birth rate. With approximately 9 million baby boomers approaching the age of 65 within the next decade, the federal government recognizes immigration as a pivotal measure to bolster the country’s economy and fiscal stability. Concurrently, Canada is facing historically low unemployment rates and remarkably high job vacancy rates, making the surge in immigration levels even more relevant and timely.
Following a significant cabinet shuffle, the Prime Minister has the option to issue fresh mandate letters to the cabinet members, clearly delineating their respective responsibilities during their tenure.
In December 2021, Trudeau furnished Fraser with a detailed set of immigration policies to emphasize, encompassing raising immigration levels, streamlining application processing for newcomers, revamping Express Entry, enhancing family reunification efforts, and encouraging francophone immigration to Canada.
Subsequently, Fraser has taken concrete steps to implement several of these measures. For instance, in the past month, Canada has introduced category-based selection for Express Entry, strategically aligning with various economic objectives, including the facilitation of francophone immigration. Additionally, in late May, Fraser made significant announcements aimed at preserving family unity within Canada.