# Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

The minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship (French: Ministre de l'immigration, des réfugiés et de la citoyenneté) is a minister of the Crown in the Canadian Cabinet. The minister is responsible for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, which is the federal department responsible for immigration, refugee and citizenship issues in Canada.
The current minister is Rachel Bendayan.
Prior to the current position, the portfolios responsible for immigration in Canada throughout history were titled: Immigration and Colonization (1917–36), Mines and Resources (1936–50), Citizenship and Immigration (1950–66), Manpower and Immigration (1966–77), and of Employment and Immigration (1977–96). The office as it exists today was created in 1994 by the Department of Citizenship and Immigration Act.
As of 2 July 2013, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship portfolio inherited primary responsibility for Passport Canada and the administration of the Canadian Passport Order from the Foreign Affairs and International Trade portfolio. The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, though independent, also reports to the minister.

## Historical overview

There have been several offices throughout history responsible for immigration in Canada.
From 1917 to 1936, the office responsible for citizenship and immigration in Canada was the minister of immigration and colonization. The portfolios thereafter fell under the ministers of mines and resources and of reconstruction and supply until 1950, when the office of the minister of citizenship and immigration was established.
In 1966, the Citizenship and Immigration ministry was largely replaced by that of the minister of manpower and immigration, who would keep responsibility over immigration until 1977. From then on, the immigration portfolio would fall under the minister of employment and immigration until 1996.
In January 1991, the office of minister of multiculturalism and citizenship was created, adopting responsibility over citizenship matters. This office lasted until 1994, when the post of minister of citizenship and immigration was resuscitated by the Department of Citizenship and Immigration Act, substantially revamping the immigration and citizenship portfolios. In 2008, the office was renamed to the minister of citizenship, immigration and multiculturalism, only to again drop the multiculturalism portfolio in 2013.
As of 2 July 2013, the Citizenship and Immigration portfolio inherited primary responsibility for Passport Canada and the administration of the Canadian Passport Order from the Foreign Affairs and International Trade portfolio.
On 4 November 2015, the name of the department has changed from Citizenship and Immigration Canada to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

## List of ministers

The office of minister of citizenship and immigration was created in 1950 by "Statute 13 George VI, c. 16". That office was abolished in 1966, and replaced by the minister of manpower and immigration. The office responsible for immigration in Canada would again be titled minister of citizenship and immigration," with its creation in 1994 by the Department of Citizenship and Immigration Act (Statute 42–43 Elizabeth II, c. 31), succeeding the minister of employment and immigration.
Though having its name changed in 2015 to minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship, the office created in 1994 as the minister of citizenship and immigration" is still the one that is currently in effect and is responsible for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
The following immigration ministers are those who assumed the position under the office that was created in 1994.
| No. | Name | Term of office | Term of office | Political party | Ministry |
| Ministers of Citizenship and Immigration (1994–2015) |||||||
| 9 | Sergio Marchi | 30 June 1994 | 24 January 1996 | Liberal | 26 (Chrétien) |
| 10 | Lucienne Robillard | 25 January 1996 | 2 August 1999 | Liberal | 26 (Chrétien) |
| 11 | Elinor Caplan | 3 August 1999 | 14 January 2002 | Liberal | 26 (Chrétien) |
| 12 | Denis Coderre | 15 January 2002 | 11 December 2003 | Liberal | 26 (Chrétien) |
| 13 | Judy Sgro | 12 December 2003 | 13 January 2005 | Liberal | 27 (Martin) |
| 14 | Joe Volpe | 14 January 2005 | 5 February 2006 | Liberal | 27 (Martin) |
| 15 | Monte Solberg | 6 February 2006 | 3 January 2007 | Conservative | 28 (Harper) |
| 16 | Diane Finley | 4 January 2007 | 29 October 2008 | Conservative | 28 (Harper) |
| 17 | Jason Kenney | 30 October 2008 | 15 July 2013 | Conservative | 28 (Harper) |
| 18 | Chris Alexander | 15 July 2013 | 3 November 2015 | Conservative | 28 (Harper) |
| Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship |||||||
| 19 | John McCallum | 4 November 2015 | 10 January 2017 | Liberal | 29 (J. Trudeau) |
| 20 | Ahmed Hussen | 10 January 2017 | 20 November 2019 | Liberal | 29 (J. Trudeau) |
| 21 | Marco Mendicino | 20 November 2019 | 26 October 2021 | Liberal | 29 (J. Trudeau) |
| 22 | Sean Fraser | 26 October 2021 | 26 July 2023 | Liberal | 29 (J. Trudeau) |
| 23 | Marc Miller | 26 July 2023 | 14 March 2025 | Liberal | 29 (J. Trudeau) |
| 24 | Rachel Bendayan | 14 March 2025 | Incumbent | Liberal | 30 (Carney) |
| Key: Liberal Party of Canada Conservative Party of Canada |||||||

## Preceding offices responsible for immigration

There have been several offices throughout history responsible for immigration in Canada.
Prior to the current position, the offices responsible for immigration in Canada throughout history include the minister of immigration and colonization (1917–1936), minister of mines and resources (1936–1950), minister of citizenship and immigration (1950–1966), minister of manpower and immigration (1966–1977), minister of employment and immigration (1977–1996).

### Minister of Immigration and Colonization (1917–36)

The minister of immigration and colonization was an office in the Cabinet of Canada from 1917 to 1936, superseded by the minister of mines and resources.
After 1950, the position has been succeeded by minister of citizenship and immigration (1950–1966), minister of manpower and immigration (1966–1977), and minister of employment and immigration (1977–1996).
Ministers of Immigration and Colonization :
| No. | Name | Term of office | Term of office | Ministry |
| 1. | James Alexander Calder | 12 October 1917 | 10 July 1920 | under Borden |
| | James Alexander Calder (cont’d) | 10 July 1920 | 20 September 1921 | under Meighen |
| 3. | John Wesley Edwards | 21 September 1921 | 29 December 1921 | under Meighen |
| * | Hewitt Bostock (acting) | 3 January 1922 | 2 February 1922 | under King |
| * | Charles Stewart (acting) | 20 February 1922 | 16 August 1923 | under King |
| 4. | James Alexander Robb | 17 August 1923 | 4 September 1925 | under King |
| 5. | George Newcombe Gordon | 7 September 1925 | 12 November 1925 | under King |
| * | Charles Stewart (acting) | 13 November 1925 | 28 June 1926 | under King |
| * | Robert James Manion (acting) | 29 June 1926 | 12 July 1926 | under Meighen |
| * | Henry Lumley Drayton (acting) | 13 July 1926 | 25 September 1926 | under Meighen |
| 6. | Robert Forke | 26 September 1926 | 29 December 1929 | under King |
| * | Charles Stewart (acting) | 30 December 1929 | 26 June 1930 | under King |
| 7. | Ian Alistair Mackenzie | 27 June 1930 | 7 August 1930 | under King |
| 8. | Wesley Ashton Gordon | 7 August 1930 | 23 October 1935 | under Bennett |
| 9. | Thomas Alexander Crerar | 23 October 1935 | 30 November 1936 | under King |

### Minister of Mines and Resources (1936–50)

The minister of mines and resources was a cabinet portfolio from 1936 to 1950 that had absorbed the responsibilities belonging to the offices of minister of immigration and colonization, as well as of the minister of the interior, minister of mines, and superintendent-general of Indian affairs. The last minister of immigration and colonization, Thomas Alexander Crerar, remained in office under the new title of minister of mines and resources.

### Citizenship and Immigration (1950–66)

The office of minister of citizenship and immigration came in force on 18 January 1950, and would be abolished and replaced by the minister of manpower and immigration as of 1 October 1966.
Following the minister of manpower and immigration (1966–1977) and the minister of employment and immigration (1977–1996), the office responsible for immigration in Canada would again be titled minister of citizenship and immigration, which was created in 1994 and is currently in effect (though changing its name to the minister immigration, refugees and citizenship as of 2015).
Ministers of Citizenship and Immigration (1950–1966) :
| No. | Name | Term of office | Term of office | Political party | Ministry |
| 1 | Walter Harris | 18 January 1950 | 30 June 1954 | Liberal | 17 (St. Laurent) |
| 2 | Jack Pickersgill | 1 July 1954 | 21 June 1957 | Liberal | 17 (St. Laurent) |
| – | Davie Fulton (Acting) | 21 June 1957 | 11 May 1958 | Progressive Conservative | 18 (Diefenbaker) |
| 3 | Ellen Fairclough | 12 May 1958 | 8 August 1962 | Progressive Conservative | 18 (Diefenbaker) |
| 4 | Dick Bell | 9 August 1962 | 22 April 1963 | Progressive Conservative | 18 (Diefenbaker) |
| 5 | Guy Favreau | 22 April 1963 | 2 February 1964 | Liberal | 19 (Pearson) |
| 6 | René Tremblay | 3 February 1964 | 14 February 1965 | Liberal | 19 (Pearson) |
| 7 | John Robert Nicholson | 15 February 1965 | 17 December 1965 | Liberal | 19 (Pearson) |
| 8 | Jean Marchand | 18 December 1965 | 30 September 1966 | Liberal | 19 (Pearson) |
| Key: Liberal Party of Canada Progressive Conservative |||||||

### Minister of Manpower and Immigration (1966–77)

Minister of Manpower and Immigration was a former position in the Cabinet of Canada from 1966 to 1977. The position was created after the minister of citizenship and immigration was dissolved in 1966. It was abolished and replaced with the minister of employment and immigration in 1977.
Ministers of Manpower and Immigration :
| No. | Name | Term of office | Term of office | Ministry |
| 1. | Jean Marchand | 1 October 1966 | 20 April 1968 | under Lester Pearson |
| 1. | Jean Marchand | 20 April 1968 | 5 July 1968 | under Pierre Trudeau |
| 2. | Allan MacEachen | 5 July 1968 | 23 September 1970 | under Pierre Trudeau |
| 3. | Otto Lang | 24 September 1970 | 27 January 1972 | under Pierre Trudeau |
| 4. | Bryce Mackasey | 28 January 1972 | 26 November 1972 | under Pierre Trudeau |
| 5. | Bob Andras | 27 November 1972 | 13 September 1976 | under Pierre Trudeau |
| 6. | Bud Cullen | 14 September 1976 | 14 August 1977 | under Pierre Trudeau |

### Minister of Employment and Immigration (1977–96)

The minister of employment and immigration was an office in the Cabinet of Canada, in operation from 1977 to 1996, and was first held by Bud Cullen, who continued from his preceding role as the minister of manpower and immigration.
On 12 July 1996, the office of the minister of employment and immigration was abolished and replaced with the office of minister of human resources development. The portfolio for immigration was transferred to the office of minister of citizenship and immigration following the reorganization of the government and formation of the department for Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
Ministers of Employment and Immigration :
| No. | Name | Term of office | Term of office | Political party | Ministry |
| 1 | Bud Cullen | 15 August 1977 | 3 June 1979 | Liberal | 20 (P. E. Trudeau) |
| 2 | Ron Atkey | 4 June 1979 | 2 March 1980 | Progressive Conservative | 21 (Clark) |
| 3 | Lloyd Axworthy | 3 March 1980 | 11 August 1983 | Liberal | 22 (P. E. Trudeau) |
| 4 | John Roberts | 12 August 1983 | 29 June 1984 | Liberal | 22 (P. E. Trudeau) |
| 4 | John Roberts | 30 June 1984 | 16 September 1984 | Liberal | 23 (Turner) |
| 5 | Flora MacDonald | 17 September 1984 | 29 June 1986 | Progressive Conservative | 24 (Mulroney) |
| 6 | Benoît Bouchard | 30 June 1986 | 30 March 1988 | Progressive Conservative | 24 (Mulroney) |
| 7 | Barbara McDougall | 31 March 1988 | 20 April 1991 | Progressive Conservative | 24 (Mulroney) |
| 8 | Bernard Valcourt | 21 April 1991 | 24 June 1993 | Progressive Conservative | 24 (Mulroney) |
| 8 | Bernard Valcourt | 25 June 1993 | 3 November 1993 | Progressive Conservative | 25 (Campbell) |
| – | Lloyd Axworthy (second time) | 4 November 1993 | 24 January 1996 | Liberal | 26 (Chrétien) |
| 9 | Douglas Young | 25 January 1996 | 11 July 1996 | Liberal | 26 (Chrétien) |
| Key: Liberal Party of Canada Progressive Conservative ||||||