IRCC Deputy Minister Transition Binder 2019 – Strategic and Program Policy Sector
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Sector Overview
Strategic and Program Policy Sector connects high-quality policy and research with program policy and design, and is responsible for consultations with national and international partners and stakeholders. It is comprised of seven branches collaborating concertedly with Operations and Settlement and Integration Sector counterparts, corporate enablers, and key OGD and external partners.
- Associate ADM: Natasha Kim
Program Policy Branches
- Admissibility facilitates the travel of permanent residents and foreign nationals to Canada, and of Canadians going abroad, while protecting the health, safety and security of Canadians.
- DG: Tina Matos
- Citizenship is responsible for the legislative, regulatory and policy framework governing citizenship, and promotes awareness of the rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizenship
- DG: Alex Attfield
- Immigration leads the development of social and economic immigration programs that lead to permanent or temporary residence.
- DG: Matt de Vlieger
- Refugee Affairs develops policies and designs programs for the resettlement of refugees from abroad, and for the refugee determination system.
- DG: TBD
Coordination Branches
- International and Intergovernmental Relations leads on IRCC’s international and provincial/territorial relationships across the department’s mandate, and on domestic information-sharing policy issues.
- DG: Glen Linder
- Research and Evaluation works with partners to strengthen and promote an evidence base that supports public policy and programming for all areas across the department’s mandate.
- DG: Ümit Kiziltan
- Strategic Policy and Planning creates horizontal linkages and policy integration within IRCC and is policy lead for cross-cutting files like immigration levels planning and digital policy.
- DG: TBD
Core Responsibilities
The Sector started the 2019 fiscal year with:
- Core confirmed budget of $42.8M in Salary and $8.4M in O&M
- Approximately 465 full time employees (FTEs)
The Strategic and Program Policy Sector has responsibility for:
- Framing IRCC’s forward agenda and strategic landscape
- includes leading on annual Budget requests, Medium-Term Planning, and transition briefings
- Leading the development and implementation of legislative, regulatory and program changes across permanent, temporary, citizenship and passport lines of business (Sept 2018-present: [REDACTED], 8 Regulations, 10 Orders in Council, and 6 Ministerial Instructions)
- Maintaining key relationships with international, provincial/territorial and other partners
- Coordinating Cabinet Committee briefing materials [REDACTED]
It pursues these through key functions, including:
- Liaison with Central Agencies and OGDs
- Evidence gathering, research, evaluation, and engagement with stakeholders and other partners for policy development
- The development of policy advice and options (e.g., choice of instrument, policy authority through Cabinet, Ministerial Instructions, etc.)
Key Files
The Strategic and Program Policy Sector files touch on all areas of the Department’s business lines and provides the foundation that helps IRCC to deliver on its mandate
Policy and Program Design
- Visa Policy
- Immigration Levels Planning
- Economic Immigration Program Design
- Digital and Automaton Policy (leg/reg underpinnings)
- Admissibility Rules
- Identity Management
- Express Entry Policy
- Refugee Resettlement
- Interim Housing Policy for Asylum Claimants
- Citizenship Program Design and Eligibility
- International Mobility Program
- Passport Program Policy
- Selection Planning and Policy
- Asylum Policy
- Safe Third Country Agreement [REDACTED]
- International Experience Canada and Students
- Immigration Consultants
- Trade Agreements
Horizontal Coordination
- FPT Relations (bilateral and multilateral)
- Mandate Tracking
- Research and Data Priorities
- Evaluation Plan
- PCO DM Committee Briefings
- Information-Sharing Agreements
- Liaison with international think tanks and organizations
- Departmental planning and reporting
- Performance Measurement and Integrity
- Program Management Table Support Cabinet and Regulatory liaison
- Federal Budget Coordination
- Cabinet and Regulatory liaison
- Federal Budget Coordination
- Gender-Based Analysis Plus
- MTP and Transition coordination
Recent Focus and Notable Achievements
Asylum System and Addressing Irregular Migration
- A consistent, high-intensity focus of the entire Department over last 18 months, with the Policy Sector leading preparations and products for numerous Cabinet discussions, briefings and [REDACTED], multi-level engagement and governance across federal departments, external engagement with municipalities, provinces and international governments [REDACTED].
- Has resulted in significant Budget investments (2018 and 2019) to enhance system capacity [REDACTED].
Responding to Economic Needs
- IRCC has faced significant ongoing pressure for immigration “solutions” to economic needs for various labour sectors and regions of the country, with interests often focused on increasing volumes and/or developing innovative new pathways. The Policy Sector has led the development of several key initiatives including:
- the multi-year levels plans (2018-2020; 2019-2021) featuring year-over-year growth (and associated funding)
- the Atlantic Immigration Pilot (launched in 2017), addressing retention shortcomings in existing pathways through tighter employer and settlement connections
- the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot, to increase immigration in rural areas, as well was the Agri-Food Pilot for full-time/non-seasonal workers.
- the Global Skills Strategy (launched in 2017) on the temporary migration side, allowing investing and scaling-up companies to have more tailored service and faster work permits
Other Key Areas advanced recently by the Policy Sector
- Citizenship Guide and Oath – conducted consultations on the Citizenship Oath and Guide to respond to recommendations of Truth and Reconciliation Commission report; Bill to change the Oath introduced in Parliament
- Consultants – developed new Consultants regime based on recommendations from 2017 Standing Committee Report, including legislation and Budget 2019 investments
- Caregivers – two new five-year pilots for Caregivers and the launch of the Interim Pathway for Caregivers were recently announced
- International – supported the adoption of the Global Compacts on Refugees & Migration; advanced Global Refugee Sponsorship Initiative; scaled up Migration Policy Development Program with 12 projects funded
- Provincial/Territorial Relations – ongoing maintenance of bilateral and multilateral relationships; [REDACTED] work with Quebec since Fall 2018 election; [REDACTED] work with select provinces/municipalities on asylum/housing costs
- Visitor Program Transformation – foundational work on visa/visitor program of future completed [REDACTED]
Key Focus Going Forward: Ministerial Transition
- SPP is the Departmental lead in coordinating Ministerial transition. Work is underway and well advanced. Key components include:
- Policy recommendations for improvements to Departmental programs and business lines through medium-term planning (MTP)
- Analyzing political platforms and the differentiated impacts on Canada’s immigration policy and programs
- Considering options for mandate letter commitments, next Cabinet schedule and financial investments via Budget 2020
- Developing transition materials and briefing approaches, which will be brought forward for DM and ExCom consideration
- A DG-level coordinating committee has been established to support ADMs and the DM to guide transition work of the Department
- In parallel, IRCC leads are working closely with PCO counterparts to ensure immigration policy and program priorities are represented in government-wide transition efforts
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