Minister of Immigration (Canada)
Statutory definition
Section 4 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, SC 2001, c 27, provides that the Minister is responsible for the administration of the Act and the development and implementation of policies in relation to immigration. The Minister of Public Safety is jointly responsible for certain enforcement provisions.
Explanation
Canada's immigration portfolio is divided between two ministers:
- Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC) — responsible for visa issuance, refugee resettlement, citizenship, and overall immigration policy
- Minister of Public Safety — responsible for CBSA enforcement, the Refugee Protection Division referral process under s 100, and the safe third country designation
Certain powers under IRPA must be exercised by the Minister personally — they cannot be delegated. These include: Ministerial Instructions under s 87.3 (setting Express Entry criteria), H&C exemptions, and certain relief from inadmissibility decisions.
How this term is used
In practice, most day-to-day immigration decisions are made by delegated officers under ss 6 and 14 of IRPA. Ministerial Instructions (published in the Gazette) have become the primary tool for adjusting Express Entry and other program parameters without regulatory amendment.