Canada Appoints New Immigration Minister

Published on: October 26th, 2021

The Liberal government appointed a new Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada today on October 26, 2021. The new minister, Sean Fraser, is a Nova Scotian Member of Parliament (MP) with a background in law.

Find out your Canadian immigration options

Following his re-election last month, Justin Trudeau’s new cabinet was sworn in this morning on October 26, 2021. Sean Fraser is replacing former Immigration Minister, Marco Mendicino, who served in the role since November 2019.

The Honorable Sean Fraser was first elected as an MP for the Central Nova region in 2015. He holds a law degree from Dalhousie University, a master’s degree in Public International Law from Leiden University in the Netherlands, and a Bachelor of Science from St. Francis Xavier University. Before his appointment, Fraser was previously secretary to the minister of finance. The 37-year-old minister is currently the only Nova Scotian in cabinet.

Fraser has indicated his priorities as “economic development and job creation, social justice, a healthy environment, and ensuring that Canada does right by the world.” The new Immigration Minister was instrumental in securing a new NAFTA deal with the United States and Mexico. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) provides unique opportunities for citizens of the United States and Mexico to work in Canada.

Following a divergence from Canada’s typical Express Entry draw schedule, Federal Skilled Workers anxiously await details on the next all-program round of invitations. Could an FSW draw be Minister Fraser’s first move?

 

Interested in discovering your options for Canadian immigration? Fill out our free online assessment form today!

Free online assessment

Recent articles

Living in Canada

Canada Expands PR Opportunities for French Speakers

  Canada is expanding pathways to permanent residency for French-speaking newcomers, with the federal government announcing 5,000 additional permanent residence spots.

Canada Permanent Residence | International Students | Temporary Foreign Worker Program

Work Permits Expiring in 2026: What Temporary Residents Should Know

According to IRCC, in the first three months of 2026, more than 314,000 work permits in Canada will expire, and approximately 1.4 million permits will […]

Canadian Citizenship

Bill C-3 Allows More People to Become Canadian Citizens

Bill C-3 was passed on December 15, 2025, and it has since brought an important change to Canadian citizenship law. This new law ended Canada’s […]

Newcomers to Canada

Canadas Doctor Shortage: Ontario Changes Immigration Rules

Canada’s new Express Entry (EE) pathway helps internationally trained doctors easily become Canadian permanent residents.

Express Entry Draw

Express Entry Draw #390 | 8,000 CEC Candidates Invited!

Express Entry draw #390 was held for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and 8,000 candidates received Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for Canadian permanent residency. This […]

Express Entry Draw | Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

First Express Entry Draw of 2026 (#389) | 574 Invitations Issued in PNP Draw

In the first Express Entry draw of 2026 (Draw #389), Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada issued 574 invitations to candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program […]

Free assessment

Discover your Canadian immigration options. Get your free assessment now!