IRCC Minister Transition Binder 2023: Strategic Immigration Review

Issue

• As part of a publicly announced Strategic Immigration Review, extensive stakeholder engagement took place this year between late February and May 2023, complemented by policy and research efforts, with the objective of informing plans to position Canada’s immigration system for the future.

State of Play

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Key Messages

• While Canada’s immigration system is considered world‑class, migration trends and international challenges are evolving. To maintain our position as a global leader, we need to start planning for the future now.
• It’s important we attract the people we need to grow our economy, support our diversity and strengthen our communities, and that we serve our clients in a way that is modern and efficient, fair and transparent.
• IRCC is collaborating closely with federal partners that play a role in the immigration continuum. We know that innovation and change cannot happen in silos.
• Engagement on “An Immigration System for Canada’s Future” began in late February. Over 500 people took part in regional dialogue sessions, thematic discussions and other engagement events. Additionally a public online survey garnered over 16,600 responses.
• Gathering views from a wide variety of voices is important to shaping the future of immigration through this strategic review.
• We are now analyzing the results of input so far, and we will be reporting out on what we heard and where it is taking us.
• You can also find read-outs and updates on the IRCC website.

Next Steps

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• The Department is available to brief you on the Strategic Immigration Review, the engagement phase, the draft public report, and the [Redacted].

Background

• There is a pressing need to position Canada’s immigration system for the future. With Canada’s aging population, the need for sustained levels of immigration will continue; currently immigration accounts for almost 100% of Canada's labour force growth, and immigration is expected to be the sole driver of Canada’s population growth by 2032. In order to ensure that Canada maintains its competitive advantage in recruiting newcomers to meet our economic needs of today and tomorrow, to grow our communities, and to fulfill our humanitarian obligations, we need to be able to adequately respond to the complex domestic and international operating environments.
• In this context, [Redacted], the Government directed the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship to undertake a Strategic Immigration Review by mandating an assessment of the effectiveness of immigration in meeting the government’s key priorities of strengthening economic growth and inclusiveness. [Redacted]
• Consistent with this direction, the previous Minister of IRC launched “An Immigration System for Canada’s Future” on February 23, 2023. Between February and May 2023, the Review undertook consultations with a wide range of stakeholders, including provincial and territorial partners, clients, businesses, academics, expert advisors, Francophone organizations and Canadians. Engagement included six in-person regional roundtables, eight in-depth conversations on issues such as housing, refugee resettlement, skills and service excellence, as well as a number of dedicated bilateral events with businesses, thought leaders, Indigenous representatives, youth and many others. In addition, a public online survey captured an even wider array of voices. More than 25 federal government departments and agencies contributed to engagement activities. In addition, several ministers, deputy ministers and parliamentarians participated in consultation sessions.
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  • Broad engagement was complemented by policy and research collaborations to explore complex immigration questions. [Redacted]
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