Mark Carney, Canada’s New Prime Minister, Announces Cabinet Changes Ahead of 2025 Election, Including Immigration Minister Shuffle
Canada’s new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, has revealed his cabinet lineup in preparation for the 2025 federal election, which includes a reshuffling of the immigration ministry.
Rachel Bendayan, the Member of Parliament for Outremont, Quebec, has been appointed as the new Minister of Immigration. She replaces Marc Miller, who previously held the position. Cabinet reshuffles are common in Canadian politics, offering Prime Ministers the chance to reassign ministers to different roles or remove them entirely. These changes are often made for various reasons, such as rewarding strong performance, addressing underperforming departments, or aligning government policies with public sentiment.
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The last major shuffle occurred in July 2023, when Marc Miller took over from Sean Fraser as Immigration Minister.
In this article, we will discuss:
- Who Canada’s new Immigration Minister is;
- Marc Miller’s impact on Canada’s immigration system;
- The significance of immigration in Canadian politics.
Who is Canada’s New Immigration Minister?
Rachel Bendayan has had an extensive career in Canadian politics, including serving as the Minister of Official Languages. She has also worked as Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, the Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance, and the Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion, and International Trade.
Born into a Moroccan-Jewish family and raised in Quebec, Minister Bendayan holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Development Studies and a joint Bachelor of Civil Law/Juris Doctor degree from McGill University. Before entering politics, she enjoyed a successful legal career at Norton Rose Fulbright, focusing on litigation and international arbitration, particularly in international trade law. Bendayan has also taught law at the Université de Montréal.
Immigration Policy Under Prime Minister Mark Carney
The new administration now guides Canada’s immigration policy under Prime Minister Mark Carney and the newly appointed Immigration Minister, Rachel Bendayan.
Ministers, including the Immigration Minister, receive Mandate Letters from the Prime Minister, outlining their objectives and challenges. While Prime Minister Carney’s specific vision for immigration is still evolving, previous statements indicate his priorities. Among other points, Carney has advocated for:
- Capping immigration to a “sustainable pre-pandemic trend”;
- Prioritizing temporary residents for permanent residence;
- Limiting the number of temporary foreign workers.
The Impact of Marc Miller on Canada’s Immigration System
Marc Miller’s time as Immigration Minister saw substantial changes to Canada’s immigration policies, particularly with regard to limiting both temporary and permanent immigration levels.
Many of Miller’s policies were designed to reduce the influx of newcomers, aiming to address issues like domestic housing and affordability challenges. Key actions during his tenure included:
- Imposing limits on the number of new study and work permit holders;
- Reducing permanent resident immigration levels to pre-pandemic numbers;
- Pausing applications for new Labour Market Impact Assessments in cities with high unemployment rates;
- Shifting the focus of federal economic immigration to an “In-Canada” model;
- Implementing provincial student quotas for international student enrollment;
- Rolling back aspects of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program;
- Introducing new language and field-of-study requirements for Post-Graduation Work Permits;
- Launching new pathways for skilled workers in high-demand trades and construction sectors;
- Restricting the issuance of family Open Work Permits;
- Removing arranged employment points under the Express Entry system.
The Importance of the Immigration Portfolio
Immigration remains a pivotal issue in Canadian society, as it plays a crucial role in bolstering Canada’s labor market and demographic growth. Marc Miller consistently emphasized the significant impact of immigration on Canada’s economy, even helping the country avoid a recession in 2023.
The importance of the immigration portfolio is underscored by the prominent roles that past Immigration Ministers have taken on after their tenure. For instance, Sean Fraser, who preceded Miller, is now the Minister of Housing Infrastructure and Communities—a key position given the ongoing housing crisis in Canada. Similarly, Marc Mendicino, Miller’s predecessor, went on to serve as the Minister of Public Safety until 2023 and is now the Chief of Staff-designate under Mark Carney.
Additionally, Canada’s immigration department (IRCC) enjoys a level of autonomy not commonly seen in other government sectors, allowing it to implement significant policy changes quickly. One example is the temporary COVID-era policy lifting work hour caps for international students, which allowed them to work unlimited hours off-campus during regular semesters. This was a departure from the previous limit of 20 hours per week, though the cap is now set at 24 hours.
In summary, immigration remains a central issue in Canadian politics, with significant influence over the country’s economy and society. The new immigration minister will play a key role in shaping the future of Canada’s immigration policies.
