Instructions Given by the Minister in 2017

The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) provides the legislative authority for Canada’s immigration program and contains various provisions that allow the Minister to issue special instructions to immigration officers to enable the Government of Canada to best attain its immigration goals. These instructions are typically issued for limited periods of time, and can touch on a diverse range of issues.

As required by paragraph 94(2)(e.1) of IRPA, this report includes in the following table a description of the instructions given by the Minister in 2017 and the date of their publication:

Global Skills Strategy

Ministerial Instructions to enable the priority processing of applications for work permits and related applications for temporary resident visas and electronic travel authorizations.

• Date of publication: June 10, 2017
• Coming into force: June 12, 2017

Increased Immigration to the Atlantic Provinces

Ministerial Instructions to establish a three-year pilot project to help address labour market needs in Atlantic Canada. The goal is to develop approaches for immigration that will enhance retention of immigrant workers in the Atlantic provinces. Through this project the Government of Canada ‎planned to admit up to 2,000 immigrants and accompanying families in 2017, with rising numbers in the following years depending on performance.

• Date of publication: March 4, 2017
• Coming into force: March 6, 2017

Parents and Grandparents

Ministerial Instructions to establish randomized intake measures for parent and grandparent applications.

• Date of publication: January 7, 2017
• Coming into force: January 7, 2017