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Rachel Bendayan appointed as Canada’s new Immigration Minister

Canada has a new Immigration Minister, following a significant cabinet reshuffle announced by Prime Minister Mark Carney. This announcement comes as the country prepares for the 2025 federal election, marking a shift in leadership for one of Canada’s most crucial government portfolios.

Rachel Bendayan, a Member of Parliament representing Outremont, Quebec, has been appointed as the new Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). She takes over the position from Marc Miller, who previously served as Immigration Minister.

Cabinet reshuffles are a common practice in Canadian politics, allowing the Prime Minister to reassign or replace ministers to ensure that government policies align with changing priorities. These changes can be motivated by a variety of factors, including rewarding strong performance, addressing challenges within specific ministries, or responding to public sentiment on key issues.

The last major cabinet shuffle affecting immigration took place in July 2023, when Marc Miller replaced Sean Fraser as Immigration Minister. Now, as Rachel Bendayan steps into the role, she will be responsible for overseeing Canada’s evolving immigration policies at a time of heightened public debate and policy shifts.

Who is Rachel Bendayan?

Rachel Bendayan brings a wealth of political and legal experience to her new position as Canada’s Immigration Minister. Before this appointment, she served in several key government roles, including:

• Minister of Official Languages
• Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
• Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance
• Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion, and International Trade

Born and raised in Quebec, Bendayan comes from a Moroccan-Jewish background. She pursued higher education at McGill University, earning both a Bachelor of Arts in International Development Studies and a joint Bachelor of Civil Law and Juris Doctor (JD).

Before entering politics, Bendayan built a successful legal career, spending nearly a decade at Norton Rose Fulbright, a global law firm. Her legal expertise focused on litigation, international arbitration, and trade law. In addition to practicing law, she also contributed to academia, teaching at the Université de Montréal’s Faculty of Law.

Her extensive legal, economic, and trade experience positions her well to navigate the complexities of Canada’s immigration system, which involves balancing labor market needs, demographic considerations, and international commitments.

What changes could be expected under Prime Minister Mark Carney?

With a new Prime Minister and Immigration Minister in place, Canada’s immigration policies may undergo significant adjustments. Each cabinet minister receives a Mandate Letter from the Prime Minister, outlining their key priorities and objectives. While Carney’s specific directives for immigration policy remain unclear, his past statements offer some insight into his approach.

Mark Carney has previously advocated for:

• Capping immigration levels to a “sustainable pre-pandemic trend”
• Prioritizing temporary residents already in Canada for permanent residency
• Reducing the number of temporary foreign workers entering the country

These positions suggest that Canada’s new immigration strategy under Carney could involve stricter controls on immigration numbers, particularly for temporary work programs. However, further details will emerge as the new government formalizes its policies.

What was Marc Miller’s impact as Immigration Minister?

Marc Miller’s tenure as Immigration Minister was marked by significant policy shifts, particularly in response to Canada’s housing affordability crisis and labor market concerns. His policies largely focused on reducing the overall number of newcomers while prioritizing in-Canada applicants for permanent residency.

During his time in office, Miller introduced several major changes, including:

• Adding language and education requirements for Post-Graduation Work Permit eligibility
• Creating new permanent residency pathways for skilled trades and construction workers
• Restricting family Open Work Permits, limiting eligibility for spouses of foreign workers
• Removing arranged employment points from the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) in Express Entry
• Limiting the number of study and work permit holders entering Canada
• Reducing permanent resident admissions to approximately pre-pandemic levels
• Pausing new Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) in metropolitan areas with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher

These measures reflect a broader effort to control immigration numbers while addressing issues such as housing demand, job market saturation, and economic sustainability.

Why is immigration a key issue in Canadian politics?

Immigration plays a crucial role in Canada’s economic and demographic stability. Newcomers are essential in filling labor shortages, supporting economic growth, and counteracting the country’s aging population.

Former Immigration Minister Marc Miller frequently highlighted the economic benefits of immigration, crediting it with helping Canada avoid a recession in 2023. However, concerns about housing shortages, affordability, and infrastructure capacity have led to increased public scrutiny of immigration policies.

The importance of immigration in Canadian politics is further demonstrated by the high-profile careers of past Immigration Ministers. Many go on to hold influential positions in government, underscoring the significance of the role:

Sean Fraser, Miller’s predecessor, is now Canada’s Minister of Housing, Infrastructure, and Communities, responsible for addressing the country’s ongoing housing crisis. Marco Mendicino, who served before Fraser, later became Minister of Public Safety and is now Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Additionally, Canada’s immigration department (IRCC) wields a unique level of autonomy compared to other government agencies. IRCC can implement major policy changes through Ministerial Instructions and Public Policies, often without requiring parliamentary approval.

For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, IRCC temporarily lifted work-hour caps for international students, allowing them to work unlimited hours off-campus while attending classes. This was a significant departure from the previous 20-hour-per-week limit. While this policy has since been revised, it demonstrated IRCC’s ability to quickly adapt policies in response to economic and social pressures.

What’s next for immigration in Canada?

With Rachel Bendayan taking over as Immigration Minister and Mark Carney leading the government, the future of Canada’s immigration policy remains uncertain but highly consequential.

Key questions moving forward include:

• Will immigration caps be further tightened?
• How will existing temporary residents be prioritized for permanent residency?
• Will the government impose additional restrictions on international students and temporary foreign workers?
• What role will immigration play in addressing Canada’s labor market challenges?

While Canada has long been recognized as a global leader in welcoming newcomers, the policies enacted under this new administration will determine how immigration continues to shape the country’s economic, social, and political landscape in the years ahead.

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit or Migrate to Canada, talk to I Can Help Immigration Services, at +1 778 239 7861 or +1 647 453 7660 with RCIC # R413239, Canada’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company to get the best help you need.