Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration (Canada)

Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration (Canada)
Name	Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration
Legislature	Parliament of Canada
Established	1970s
Jurisdiction	House of Commons of Canada

Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration (Canada) The Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration is a permanent committee of the House of Commons of Canada tasked with studying matters related to Citizenship Act, Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, and administrative agencies such as Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. It examines legislation, conducts inquiries, and produces reports to inform the Parliament of Canada on issues affecting Canadian citizenship, immigration to Canada, and refugee protection.

Mandate and Jurisdiction

The committee’s remit is defined by the Standing Orders of the House of Commons of Canada and includes review of statutes and programs administered by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, and related instruments such as the Citizenship Act, the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, and regulations under the authority of the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (Canada). Its jurisdiction encompasses subjects including refugee law, multiculturalism in Canada, temporary foreign worker program, family reunification, and settlement services tied to organizations like Settlement.org and agencies such as Service Canada. The committee also monitors interactions with courts including the Supreme Court of Canada and tribunals like the Federal Court of Canada when decisions intersect with immigration and citizenship policy.

Membership and Leadership

Membership is composed of members of the House of Commons of Canada from recognized parties including the Liberal Party of Canada, the Conservative Party of Canada, the New Democratic Party, the Bloc Québécois, and occasionally independent MPs such as those formerly affiliated with the Green Party of Canada. Chairs have included parliamentarians with background in portfolios linked to Citizenship and Immigration and appointments follow conventions in the House of Commons of Canada. The committee frequently invites officials from the Privy Council Office, ministers such as the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (Canada), and stakeholders including representatives from United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, provincial entities like the Government of Ontario, and municipal actors such as the City of Toronto.

History and Evolution

The committee traces origins to parliamentary committees formed in the postwar era and was shaped by major legislative milestones including the 1977 amendments to the Immigration Act and the 1985 changes to the Citizenship Act. Its role expanded following the enactment of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act in 2002 and significant events such as the arrival of Haitian migrants, the Syrian refugee crisis, and rulings from the Supreme Court of Canada that affected rights of non-citizens. Over time the committee has adapted to shifts in Canadian policy under administrations led by Pierre Trudeau, Brian Mulroney, Jean Chrétien, Stephen Harper, and Justin Trudeau, as well as to international developments like the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.

Activities and Studies

The committee conducts studies on topics ranging from refugee determination systems and detention practices to processing backlogs, citizenship revocation, and settlement programming. Past studies have examined the temporary foreign worker program, the protection of vulnerable populations such as victims of trafficking, migrant health linked to agencies like Public Health Agency of Canada, and border security coordination with departments including the Canada Border Services Agency. It engages experts from institutions such as University of Toronto, McGill University, York University, advocacy groups like Canadian Council for Refugees, and labour organizations such as the Canadian Labour Congress.

Legislation and Policy Impact

Through clause-by-clause review and reports, the committee has influenced amendments to bills addressing sponsorship, admissibility, and processing times under instruments like the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Its recommendations have informed policy adjustments by ministers and administrations, prompting operational changes at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and legislative responses in Parliament, including amendments debated alongside bills introduced by ministers and private members from parties such as the Conservative Party of Canada and the New Democratic Party.

Meetings, Hearings, and Reports

The committee holds public meetings and hearings in the House of Commons Chamber committee rooms, sitting in Ottawa and occasionally touring regions such as Vancouver, Montreal, and Winnipeg to gather testimony. It issues reports to the House of Commons containing recommendations, minority opinions, and dissenting views, and may propose motions that receive debate on the floor of the House of Commons of Canada. Reports have addressed crises such as the Syrian refugee response and systemic issues highlighted by cases reviewed by the Federal Court of Canada.

Relations with Other Bodies and Stakeholders

The committee liaises with federal departments like the Department of Justice (Canada), provincial governments including the Province of Quebec which administers elements of immigration under the Canada–Quebec Accord, municipal governments, international organizations such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organization for Migration, and civil society groups including Migrant Workers Alliance for Change and the Canadian Council for Refugees. It also coordinates with parliamentary counterparts such as the Senate of Canada committees and engages legal advocates, academic researchers, and service providers to build evidence for policy recommendations.

Category:Parliament of Canada committees