Info Source: Institutional Functions, Programs and Activities

Below you will find information about ten key programs at CIC. Descriptions of the programs and activities, and the related Classes of Records can be found under each major heading. Personal Information Banks (PIBs) are listed under the corresponding Classes of Records, if applicable. This section also includes information on Internal Services, Classes of Personal Information, and CIC’s Manuals.

Permanent Economic Residents

Permanent Resident refers to permanent migration to Canada including business immigration (investors, entrepreneurs and self-employed), skilled workers, the Canadian experience class, provincial nominees and migration to official language minority communities.

The social benefit of immigration to Canada includes family reunifications from overseas and within Canada, sponsorship, inter-country adoption and discretionary decision making for humanitarian and compassionate or public interest reasons.

Federal Skilled Workers

The Federal Skilled Workers (FSW) program allows immigrants to be selected for their human capital, including their age, education, work experience, ability in one or both of Canada’s official languages and enhanced settlement prospects by reason of previous education or work experience, or a confirmed job offer. The benefits of immigration are shared across all regions of Canada. The selection and processing involve the issuance of permanent resident visas to qualified applicants, as well as the refusal of unqualified applicants.

Québec Skilled Workers

The Quebec-selected Skilled Workers (QSW) program allows immigrants to Quebec to be selected for their human capital, including their age, education, work experience, ability in French and enhanced settlement prospects, by reason of previous education or work experience in Canada, or a confirmed job offer. The Canada-Quebec Accord specifies that the province of Quebec is solely responsible for the selection of applicants destined to the province of Quebec. Federal responsibility under the Accord is to assess an applicant’s admissibility and issue permanent resident visas. The selection and processing involve the issuance of permanent resident visas to qualified applicants, as well as the refusal of unqualified applicants.

Provincial Nominees

The Provincial Nominees Program (PNP) allows provincial and territorial governments to identify and nominate for permanent residence, immigrants who will meet local economic needs and who wish to settle in that specific province or territory. Persons who immigrate to Canada under the PNP are deemed to have the skills, education and work experience needed to make an immediate economic contribution to the province or territory that nominates them. There are several Federal-Provincial agreements which enable the provinces to select immigrants. CIC retains final selection authority, assesses the admissibility of provincial nominees and issues permanent resident visas. The selection and processing involve the issuance of permanent resident visas to qualified applicants, as well as the refusal of unqualified applicants.

Live-in Caregivers

Live-in Caregiver program (LCP) allows persons residing in Canada to employ qualified foreign workers in private residences to provide care for children, elderly persons or persons with a disability. Applicants come to Canada as temporary residents, but can apply for permanent residence after two years of fulltime employment or 3,900 hours of full-time employment within 4 years of their arrival in Canada. The selection and processing involve the issuance of permanent resident visas to qualified applicants, as well as the refusal of unqualified applicants.

Canadian Experience Class

Canadian Experience Class (CEC) was introduced in 2008 as a permanent resident category for individuals with certain work experience in Canada. It was developed for temporary foreign workers or graduates of Canadian post secondary institutions with at least 1 year fulltime equivalent skilled work experience. The selection and processing involve the issuance of permanent resident visas to qualified applicants, as well as the refusal of unqualified applicants.

Federal Business Immigrants

The Federal Business Immigration component seeks to attract experienced business people to Canada who will support the development of a strong and prosperous economy. There are three classes of business immigrants in Canada: investors, entrepreneurs and self-employed persons. The selection and processing involve the issuance of permanent resident visas to qualified applicants, as well as the refusal of unqualified applicants.

Quebec Business Immigrants

The Quebec Business Immigration component seeks to attract experienced business people to the province of Quebec who will support the development of a strong and prosperous economy. There are three classes of business immigrants: investors, entrepreneurs and self-employed persons. The Canada-Quebec Accord specifies that the province of Quebec is solely responsible for the selection of applicants destined to the province of Quebec. Federal responsibility under the Accord is to assess an applicant’s admissibility and issue permanent resident visas. The selection and processing involve the issuance of permanent resident visas to qualified applicants, as well as the refusal of unqualified applicants.

Temporary Economic Residents

Rooted in legislative requirements outlined in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the focus of this program is on processing and facilitating the entry into Canada of temporary workers and students. Temporary economic migration benefits Canada’s economic growth. The selection and processing involve the issuance of temporary resident visas, work permits and study permits to qualified applicants, as well as the refusal of unqualified applicants.

International Students

CIC facilitates the entry of international students to Canada by issuing study permits and, where necessary, visas, which allow them to obtain a Canadian education. CIC is responsible for ensuring that the proper documentation, financial, and security requirements are met, including the bona fides, or honest intentions, of all applicants. In order to provide the opportunity of the benefit of Canadian work experience, work permits are issued to qualified international students under CIC’s Off-Campus Work Permit (OCWP) component. Students who want to work in Canada after graduation can apply for a work permit under the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) component, which allows them to gain up to three years of valuable Canadian work experience. Some PGWP holders of work permits will also be eligible to apply for permanent residence under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

Temporary Foreign Workers

Temporary Resident refers to temporary migration, such as visitors, international students, and temporary workers (including live-in caregivers). Trade agreements affecting the movement of people, including the North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the General Agreements on Trade in Services (GATS), are part of this program activity.

A new addition to the Temporary Resident Program is the Temporary Resident Biometrics Project, which is designed to leverage and build upon existing technological capacity within the Government of Canada. The project will capture the photo and fingerprints of temporary resident applicants at the time of application. Fingerprints will be transmitted to the RCMP’s Real-time Identification system. As a result, the project will deliver enhanced identity management and entry screening of temporary resident applicants. To the maximum extent possible, the project will acquire or build components for shared use by both CBSA and CIC and will conform to industry standards to ensure interoperability.

Family and discretionary Immigration

CIC facilitates family reunification by enabling eligible foreign nationals to be sponsored by family members in Canada who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Spouses and partners, dependent children (including adopted children), and other eligible relatives such as parents and grandparents are welcomed to Canada under this program. CIC may also grant permanent resident or other status to persons who would not otherwise qualify in any immigration category, in cases where there are strong humanitarian and compassionate considerations, or for public policy reasons. Such exceptional and discretionary immigration measures provide the flexibility to approve deserving cases not anticipated in the legislation.

Spouses, Partners and Children Reunification

The Family Class, as set forth in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, allows permanent residents and Canadian citizens to sponsor their immediate family members, i.e., spouse, common-law or conjugal partner, and dependent children for immigration to Canada. Family reunification is a key priority for the Government of Canada and as such the highest priority for processing is for those considered to be the closest family members, spouses, conjugal partners and dependent children. The permanent resident or Canadian citizen must undertake to provide for the basic needs of their sponsored relative for a set period of time, depending on the nature of the relationship. This program facilitates family reunification while ensuring that there is no undue cost to the general public.

Parents and Grandparents Reunification

The Family Class, as set forth in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, allows permanent residents and Canadian citizens to sponsor their parents and grandparents for immigration to Canada. The permanent resident or Canadian citizen must undertake to provide for the basic needs of their parent or grandparent for 10 years. This program facilitates family reunification while ensuring that there is no undue cost to the general public.

Humanitarian & Compassionate Public Policy Considerations to Address Exceptional Circumstances

Section 25 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act provides the legal basis for both the Humanitarian & Compassionate (H&C) and the public policy provisions. These discretionary provisions of the Act are intended to uphold Canada’s humanitarian tradition. They provide the flexibility to approve exceptional cases which either do not meet the requirements of a class or are inadmissible to Canada. Under the H&C program, the applicant’s individual circumstances are assessed, taking into account the best interests of the child, and any factors brought forward for consideration. In contrast, public policies created under s.25 are designed to facilitate processing of a number of individuals in similar circumstances, all of whom must meet specific eligibility criteria. While any foreign national may request H&C consideration, public policies are created on the Minister’s initiative.

Refugee Protection

The Refugee Protection program is in the first instance about saving lives and offering protection to the displaced and persecuted. One arm of the program starts overseas where refugees and persons in refugee-like situations are selected by Canadian visa officers to be resettled as permanent residents to Canada. Flowing from Canada’s international and domestic legal obligations, the in-Canada asylum system evaluates the claims of individuals seeking asylum in Canada and grants permanent residence when a positive decision is rendered by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada.

Government-Assisted Refugees

Working closely with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees or other referral agencies, Canadian visa officers within the Government-Assisted Refugees (GARs) Program identify and select as permanent residents, members of the Convention Refugees Abroad and Humanitarian-protected Persons Abroad classes for resettlement in Canada when there is no other durable solution available within a reasonable period of time. The primary objective of the Program is to affirm Canada’s humanitarian commitment to assist refugees in need of international protection through the provision of governmental assistance and to assist the countries hosting them through responsibility sharing.

Privately Sponsored Refugees

The primary objective of the Privately Sponsored Refugees program is to affirm Canada’s commitment to providing durable solutions to more refugees than would otherwise be admitted under the Government-Assisted Refugees program. Canadian visa officers select as permanent residents members of the Convention Refugees Abroad and Humanitarian-protected Persons Abroad classes for resettlement in Canada who are referred by private sponsors. These private sponsors then provide the social, financial and emotional support to the refugees upon their arrival in Canada. The program is unique as it ensures an additional number of refugees are offered protection over and above those sponsored by the government.

In-Canada Asylum

CIC implements the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and departmental policies and programs regarding the eligibility for referral to the Immigration and Refugee Board of claims, by foreign nationals, for refugee protection in Canada.

Pre-removal Risk Assessment

CIC delivers pre-removal risk assessments to persons who allege risk prior to their removal from Canada, and thereby ensures adherence to the principle of non-refoulement.

Settlement and Integration of Newcomers

In accordance with the Canadian Multiculturalism Act, the Employment Equity Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the settlement and integration program develops policies and programs to support the settlement, resettlement, adaptation and integration of newcomers into Canadian society focused on information/orientation, language/skills, labour market access and welcoming communities. All permanent residents are eligible for settlement and integration programs. Programming is delivered by third parties (including provincial and municipal governments, school boards and post-secondary institutions, settlement service organizations and other non-governmental actors, and the private sector) across the country. However, accountability for expended funds and attaining outcomes remains with Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

Foreign Credentials Referral

Internationally trained Individuals (ITIs) can face significant barriers to integrating into the Canadian labour market, including successfully navigating complex foreign credential recognition (FCR) and regulatory processes that can differ for each province and territory. Further complicating these processes are the multitude of information sources available on FCR which may or may not offer the correct information. The Foreign Credentials Referral Office (FCRO) was established in 2007 to help ITIs, in Canada or overseas, receive information, path-finding and referral services to have their credentials assessed as quickly as possible so they can find work faster in the fields for which they have been trained. The FCRO, through its network of partners and service provider organizations, offers assistance through several mediums, both domestically and overseas.

In Canada, Service Canada delivers in-person and telephone services on behalf of the FCRO. Overseas, the FCRO is responsible for the Canadian Immigrant Integration Program, an in-person orientation service which provides newcomers with essential FCR information and referrals prior to arriving in Canada. Information on foreign credential recognition (FCR), tools to help ITIs with the FCR process and links to key sources of information are also available through the FCRO website (www.credentials.gc.ca). In addition, the FCRO works closely with key partners to develop tools and strategies that aim to assist ITIs with the FCR process long-term, including working with federal, provincial and territorial partners as the lead department on the pre-arrival component of the Pan-Canadian Framework for the Assessment and Recognition of Foreign Qualifications.

Settlement

Settlement refers to the short-term transitional issues faced by newcomers moving to Canada, while integration is an ongoing process of mutual accommodation between an individual and society. CIC’s settlement program assists immigrants and refugees to overcome barriers specific to the newcomer experience (such as a lack of official language skills and limited knowledge of Canada) so that they can participate in social, cultural, civic and economic life in Canada. The program accomplishes this goal by providing language learning services for newcomers, community and employment bridging services, settlement information, and support services that facilitate access to settlement programming. Most services are designed and delivered by service provider organizations, but certain services (such as some information provision) are delivered directly by CIC, and some services are delivered overseas. British Columbia, Manitoba, and Quebec design, deliver, and administer their own settlement services.

Grant to Quebec

Quebec has the sole authority for administration of settlement and resettlement services for clients in that province. This program governs the transfer of funds under a federal-provincial agreement, the Canada-Quebec Accord. The monies are used by Quebec to develop, implement, and manage delivery of settlement, resettlement and integration services to newcomers.

Immigration Loan

The Immigration Loan Program is a statutory program under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. It ensures that some persons, otherwise unable to pay for the costs of transportation to Canada and medical admissibility exams, have access to a funding source. Assistance loans may also be approved for newcomers in need to cover initial settlement expenses such as rental and utilities deposits. The main target groups for the program are government-assisted refugees and privately sponsored refugees. These individuals have undergone extreme hardship and most often have few personal resources and are therefore unable to access traditional lending institutions. Canadian visa officers authorize the transportation and admissibility loans and the International Organization for Migration arranges travel and medical exams for refugees and pays these costs. CIC reimburses them and the refugee reimburses CIC. Assistance loans are authorized by in-Canada officers. The interest bearing loans are repayable in full and payment plans vary by the value of the loan and the recipients’ ability to repay while integrating.

Refugee Resettlement Assistance Program

The Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) for Government-Assisted Refugees (GARs) provides immediate and essential support services and income support to assist in meeting refugees’ resettlement needs. In most cases GARs have undergone extreme hardship and may lack the social networks and the financial resources to assist in addressing the needs associated with becoming established in a new country. Local CIC officers administer and deliver monthly income support to GARs who cannot support themselves and their dependants (if applicable). Income support is available for up to 12 months, or until they become self-sufficient, whichever comes first. GARs also receive start up allowances for expenses related to furniture and other household supplies. Essential services are supported through contributions to service provider organizations (SPOs) in all provinces in Canada except Quebec, which delivers similar settlement services through the Canada-Quebec Accord. RAP services include, but are not limited to, reception services, assistance with accommodations, links to mandatory federal and provincial programs, life skills training, and orientation on financial and non-financial information.

Citizenship for Newcomers and all Canadians

The purpose of the Citizenship Program is to administer citizenship legislation and promote the rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizenship. CIC administers the acquisition of Canadian citizenship by developing, implementing, and applying legislation, regulations and policies that protect the integrity of Canadian citizenship and allow eligible applicants to be granted citizenship or be provided with a proof of citizenship. In addition, the program promotes citizenship, to both newcomers and the Canadian-born, through various events, materials and projects. Promotional activities focus on enhancing knowledge of Canada’s history, institutions, and values, as well as fostering an understanding of the rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizenship.

Citizenship Awareness

The Citizenship Program aims to enhance the meaning of Canadian citizenship for both newcomers and the Canadian-born and to increase a sense of belonging to Canada. Through knowledge of Canada’s history, institutions and values, as well as the rights and responsibilities associated with citizenship, newcomers and the Canadian-born are better equipped for active citizenship and can contribute to the development of an integrated society. The program undertakes various knowledge-building and promotional activities such as: citizenship ceremonies; citizenship reaffirmation ceremonies; Citizenship Week; Canada’s Citizenship award; and, the distribution of citizenship educational publications (e.g. Discover Canada citizenship study guide).

Citizenship Acquisition, Confirmation & Revocation

Citizenship processing activities include interpreting and administering the Citizenship Act and Regulations, managing the naturalization process (whereby non-citizens become citizens), issuing proof of citizenship to those who are citizens by birth or by naturalization, and maintaining these records. The granting of Canadian citizenship helps newcomers fully participate in Canadian life and contributes to their successful integration into Canadian society. A person’s citizenship is revoked if it is found that they have obtained their citizenship fraudulently, by misrepresentation or by knowingly concealing information during the course of their immigration or citizenship application process. CIC reviews files where there are allegations of fraud and collects and analyses information to determine if recommendation to initiate revocation proceedings should be made to the Minister.

Multiculturalism for Newcomers and all Canadians

The Multiculturalism Program is the principal means of carrying out the Minister’s responsibilities under the Canadian Multiculturalism Act for promoting the full and equitable participation of individuals and communities of all origins. Grants and contributions to not-for-profit organizations, the private sector, provincial and municipal governments, non-federal public institutions and individuals seek to advance overarching Program objectives. These objectives are to: build an integrated, cohesive society (through intercultural understanding, civic memory and pride and democratic values, and equality of opportunity); improve the responsiveness of institutions to the needs of a diverse population; and, actively engage in discussions on multiculturalism and diversity at the international level. Direct public outreach and promotional activities by the Program primarily target young people. The Program assists federal partners to meet their obligations under the Act and ensures annual reporting to Parliament on its operation. It also engages with non-federal public institutions seeking to respond to diversity. The Program provides a forum for cooperation with provinces and territories and is the locus for Canada’s participation in international agreements and institutions with respect to multiculturalism, anti-racism and related issues.

Multiculturalism Awareness

Multiculturalism Awareness comprises a suite of policy, operational, and public engagement and promotional activities. In addition to developing policies that shape Canada’s stance on diversity issues, project funding (grants and contributions - Gs&Cs) is disbursed to recipients (e.g., not-for-profit organizations, the private sector and individuals) seeking to address the Program’s overarching objective of building an integrated, cohesive society through intercultural understanding, civic memory and pride and core democratic values, and equal opportunity to full participation in society and the economy. Multiculturalism Awareness also does direct public outreach and promotional activities, primarily targeting young people, designed to engage newcomers and Canadians on multiculturalism, racism and discrimination issues.

Historical Recognition

With the sun-setting of the Chinese Head Tax Ex-Gratia Payments initiative on March 31, 2009, there remain two components to the historical recognition program: the National Historical Recognition Program (NHRP), which funds federal initiatives related to wartime measures or immigration restrictions, and the Community Historical Recognition Program (CHRP), which funds eligible community-based commemorative and educational projects linked to historical wartime measures and immigration restrictions or prohibitions.

Note: The Community Historical Recognition Program will sun-set on March 31, 2013.

Federal and Public Institutional Multiculturalism Support

Federal and Public Institutional Multiculturalism Support efforts are directed toward improving the responsiveness of federal and other public institutions to the needs of a diverse population, a Multiculturalism Program objective. To assist federal institutions in meeting their obligations under the Canadian Multiculturalism Act, the Multiculturalism Program coordinates the Multiculturalism Champions Network, for high-level executives in federal institutions to support incorporating multiculturalism in activities and policies within their respective institutions, and produces and disseminates the Annual Report on the Operation of the Canadian Multiculturalism Act. The Annual Report fulfills the Minister’s obligations to Parliament under the Act, but also serves as an education tool for institutions seeking to become more diverse and/or inclusive. Multiculturalism Champions Network participants also receive the latest research, policy developments and messaging through bi-annual meetings. The Program also houses the Secretariat of the Network of Federal/Provincial/Territorial Officials Responsible for Multiculturalism Issues (FPTORMI) and disburses project funding (Gs&Cs) to provincial and municipal governments and non-federal public institutions. The Multiculturalism Program is responsible for policy relationships and portfolio management of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation and manages the relationship with the Global Centre for Pluralism, which reports to the Minister on its work to promote intercultural understanding and equality globally.

Canada’s Action Plan against Racism (CAPAR)

The end of the first five years of (CAPAR) and the recent CAPAR evaluations (Fall 2010) will provide an opportunity for the government to review and update its approach to addressing racism and discrimination and in communicating its actions in this area.

Health Management

This program assesses the health of permanent and temporary applicants applying to come to Canada in order to protect the health and safety of all Canadians. The program evaluates health risks related to immigration and coordinates with international and Canadian health partners on the development of risk management strategies.

Health Screening

Post-arrival Health and Medical Surveillance

Section 38(1) of IRPA sets danger to public to health as a condition of inadmissibility to Canada. Two medical conditions are considered to be a danger to public health: active tuberculosis and untreated syphilis.

Section 32 of the Regulations specifies that any applicant who has had an IME may have a condition placed on them to make sure that they do not represent a danger to public health.

The Public Health Liaison Unit links the above mentioned applicants with the provincial/territorial public health authorities in order to help them meet their terms and conditions of landing and protect their well being, that of their families as well as the Canadian population.

Refugee Health Program

The Refugee Health Program facilitates the arrival and integration of resettled refugees to Canada while protecting the health and safety of Canadians.

CIC-HBs role includes: gathering field intelligence related to the health conditions of the target population, develop pre-departure and post-arrival interventions that respond to the specific needs of the target populations and assume a leadership and coordination function.

Interim Federal Health Program

The IFHP is intended to provide temporary coverage of the cost of urgent and essential medically required and medically necessary health-care services for certain migrants (primarily refugee claimants and resettled refugees) who do not qualify for provincial or territorial (P/T) health insurance or supplemental health benefits programs and who lack financial means.

The IFHP serves approximately 125,000 beneficiaries through a network of more than 18,000 registered health care providers across Canada. Health care providers are reimbursed directly for services rendered to eligible clients.

Migration Control and Security Management

In accordance with the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and Regulations, this program activity aims to ensure the managed migration of people to Canada in order to protect the health, safety and security of Canadians. Even as CIC facilitates the travel of bona fide permanent residents, visitors, students and temporary workers, it also deploys an array of policy interventions to manage access and entry to Canada, including visa, admissibility, information sharing, travel document, and identity management policies. Effective partnerships with public safety-related departments and organizations are an essential component of this program activity.

Under IRPA, all visitors to Canada require a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) except where an exemption has been granted under the Regulations. The TRV requirement is Canada’s primary means of controlling migration and allows for the screening of individuals for health, safety and security risks before they begin travel to Canada.

CIC also aims to ensure that admissibility policy continues to provide flexibility to address compelling circumstances that warrant a foreign national’s presence in Canada, while maintaining the integrity of Canada’s immigration system. Information sharing agreements and mechanisms support immigration management and provide security advantage.

This program activity supports CIC’s policy initiatives related to identity management and entry document requirements, including the expansion of biometrics to accurately identify foreign nationals entering Canada and the provision of a highly secure proof of status document to all permanent residents. The Permanent Resident Card also serves as a travel document and is required for all commercial travel to Canada.

Permanent Resident Cards

In accordance with the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, CIC must process and issue a secure status document to all permanent residents. The five-year Permanent Resident Card (PR Card) serves as proof of permanent resident status in Canada and as a travel document to return to Canada. While not mandatory within Canada, it is required for all permanent residents seeking to re-enter Canada on a commercial carrier. It contains security features to reduce the risk of fraud. New permanent residents are issued PR Cards. Permanent residents, who obtained their status under previous immigration legislation, or those who wish to replace an expired, lost, or stolen PR Card, may obtain one upon application. Limited use permanent resident travel documents are also issued by visa offices overseas for qualified permanent residents outside of Canada who do not have a valid PR Card to return to Canada. The PR Card program supports CIC’s strategic objective of protecting the health, safety, and security of Canadians, by making it more difficult to access Canadian territory fraudulently.

Visitors

Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, all visitors to Canada require a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), except citizens of countries for which an exemption has been granted under the Regulations. A foreign national that wishes to come to Canada, and for which a TRV is imposed, needs to apply at a Canadian Embassy abroad. If the application is accepted, a TRV – a secure counterfoil document affix to the passport – will be issued to the visitor.

Canada assesses countries against several criteria when deciding whether to impose or lift a visa requirement. CIC maintains the visa requirement for only those populations for which an overseas screening process is considered appropriate. The screening of travellers requiring a TRV is carried out by CIC in cooperation with its federal security partners. Once individuals arrive in Canada, their status needs to be maintained, regardless of whether they needed a visa to enter the country. The TRV is designed to prevent individuals who would abuse temporary entry from coming to Canada, and to facilitate the entry to Canada of genuine temporary residents. The requirement to obtain a TRV will limit the number of immigration violations (i.e., refugee claims, no proper travel documents, not leaving Canada once the period of stay had expired, working illegally, etc.)

Temporary Resident Permits

Persons seeking temporary residence in Canada who do not meet the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act requirements are subject to refusal of Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) abroad, denial of entry at ports of entry, or refusal of extensions inland. In some cases, however, there may be compelling reasons for an officer to issue a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) to allow a person who is otherwise inadmissible to enter or remain in Canada. Designated officers may issue these permits abroad, at a port of entry or in Canada, depending on the circumstances. Grounds for issuance of a TRP include, among others, inadmissibility due to medical reasons, criminality, reasons of security, infringement of human or international rights, or organized crime. TRPs are issued for a limited, often short, period of time and subject to cancellation at any time. TRPs provide officers with the flexibility to address exceptional circumstances and, in so doing, maintain the integrity of Canada’s immigration program.

Fraud Prevention and Program Integrity Protection

Policy is developed and procedures are designed in order to maintain confidence in Canada’s citizenship and immigration system and to protect the safety and security of Canada while effectively delivering on economic and social objectives by selecting only those applicants that meet program needs. Program integrity is achieved through case processing procedures that filter out applicants who fail to meet eligibility requirements, admissibility requirements or who commit fraud, and through referral of these cases for enforcement action where appropriate.

Identity management contributes to strengthened program integrity by ensuring that services are delivered to the correct individual; developing efficiencies across the multiple business lines; and allowing CIC to streamline interactions with repeat clientele. Identity management involves the application of procedures to establish, fix, and manage client identity across CIC operations and between key partners based on personal identifiers, identity documents, and biometrics identifiers.

Canadian Influence in International Migration and Integration Agenda

As part of its mandate, CIC aims to influence the international migration and integration policy agenda. This is done by developing and promoting, together with other public policy sectors, Canada’s position on international migration, integration, and refugee protection issues and through participation in multilateral, regional and bilateral forums.

CIC works closely with partner countries to ensure the effective administration of immigration laws through the exchange of information, including biometric data. This international migration policy development helps Canada advance its interests in the context of international migration as well as meet its international obligations and commitments.

CIC supports international engagement and partnerships through membership in the International Organization for Migration, and contribution arrangements with other international migration policy organizations.

Internal Services

Internal Services are groups of related activities and resources that are administered to support the needs of programs and other corporate obligations of an organization. These groups are: Management and Oversight Services; Communications Services; Legal Services; Human Resources Management Services; Financial Management Services; Information Management Services; Information Technology Services; Real Property Services; Materiel Services; Acquisition Services; and Travel and Other Administrative Services. Internal Services include only those activities and resources that apply across an organization and not to those provided specifically to a program.

Acquisitions

Acquisition Services involve activities undertaken to acquire a good or service to fulfil a properly completed request (including a complete and accurate definition of requirements and certification that funds are available) until entering into or amending a contract.

• Procurement and Contracting
  • Professional Services Contracts

Communications Services

Communications Services involve activities undertaken to ensure that Government of Canada communications are effectively managed, well coordinated and responsive to the diverse information needs of the public. The communications management function ensures that the public – internal or external – receives government information, and that the views and concerns of the public are taken into account in the planning, management and evaluation of policies, programs, services and initiatives.

• Communications
  • Internal Communications
  • Public Communications

Financial Management

Financial Management Services involve activities undertaken to ensure the prudent use of public resources, including planning, budgeting, accounting, reporting, control and oversight, analysis, decision support and advice, and financial systems.

• Financial Management
  • Accounts Payable
  • Accounts Receivable

Human Resources Management

Human Resources Management Services involve activities undertaken for determining strategic direction, allocating resources among services and processes, as well as activities relating to analyzing exposure to risk and determining appropriate countermeasures. They ensure that the service operations and programs of the federal government comply with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and/or plans.

• Awards (Pride and Recognition)
  • Recognition Program
• Classification of Positions
  • Staffing
• Compensation and Benefits
  • Attendance and Leave
  • Pay and Benefits
• Employment Equity and Diversity
  • Employment Equity and Diversity
• Hospitality
  • Hospitality
• Human Resources Planning
  • Human Resources Planning
  • Workplace Day Care
• Labour Relations
  • Canadian Human Rights Act - Complaints
  • Discipline
  • Grievances
  • Harassment
  • Internal Disclosure of Wrongdoing in the Workplace
  • Values and Ethics Code for the Public Service
• Occupational Health and Safety
  • Employee Assistance
  • Harassment
  • Occupational Health and Safety
  • Vehicle, Ship, Boat and Aircraft Accidents
• Official Languages
  • Official Languages
• Performance Management Reviews
  • Discipline
  • Performance Management Reviews
• Recruitment and Staffing
  • Applications for Employment
  • Employee Personnel Record
  • EX Talent Management
  • Personnel Security Screening
  • Staffing
  • Values and Ethics Code for the Public Service
• Relocation
  • Relocation
• Training and Development
  • Training and Development

Information Management

Information Management Services involve activities undertaken to achieve efficient and effective information management to support program and service delivery; foster informed decision making; facilitate accountability, transparency, and collaboration; and preserve and ensure access to information and records for the benefit of present and future generations.

• Information Management
  • Automated Document, Records, and Information Management Systems
  • Library Services

Information Technology

Information Technology Services involve activities undertaken to achieve efficient and effective use of information technology to support government priorities and program delivery, to increase productivity, and to enhance services to the public.

• Information Technology
  • Electronic Network Monitoring

Legal Services

Legal services involve activities undertaken to enable government departments and agencies to pursue policy, program and service delivery priorities and objectives within a legally sound framework.

• Legal services

Management and Oversight Services

Management and Oversight Services involve activities undertaken for determining strategic direction, and allocating resources among services and processes, as well as those activities related to analyzing exposure to risk and determining appropriate countermeasures. They ensure that the service operations and programs of the federal government comply with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and/or plans.

• Cooperation and Liaison
  • Lobbying Act Requirements
  • Outreach Activities
• Executive Services
  • Executive Correspondence
• Internal Audit and Evaluation
• Planning and Reporting

Materiel

Materiel Services involve activities undertaken to ensure that materiel can be managed by departments in a sustainable and financially responsible manner that supports the cost-effective and efficient delivery of government programs.

• Materiel Management

Real Property

Real Property Services involve activities undertaken to ensure real property is managed in a sustainable and financially responsible manner, throughout its life cycle, to support the cost-effective and efficient delivery of government programs.

• Real Property Management

Travel and Other Administrative Services

Travel and Other Administrative Services include Government of Canada (GC) travel services, as well as those other internal services that do not smoothly fit with any of the internal services categories.

• Access to Information and Privacy
  • Access to Information and Privacy Requests
• Administrative Services
  • Parking
• Boards, Committees and Councils
  • Governor in Council Appointments
  • Members of Boards, Committees and Councils
• Business Continuity Planning
  • Business Continuity Planning
• Disclosure to Investigative Bodies
  • Disclosure to Investigative Bodies
• Proactive Disclosure
  • Hospitality
  • Travel
• Security
  • Identification and Building-Pass Cards
  • Internal Disclosure of Wrongdoing in the Workplace
  • Personnel Security Screening
  • Security Incidents
  • Security Video Surveillance and Temporary Visitor Access Control Logs and Building Passes
• Travel
  • Travel

Classes of Personal Information

Application for an ex gratia payment

Head Tax payers and the conjugal partners of deceased Head Tax Payers, or those applying on their behalf, provided personal information about the applicant to the Department of Canadian Heritage to allow determination of eligibility for a payment, with consent. Canadian Heritage shared personal information with CIC for purposes of confirming the applicant’s residency record and citizenship status and identity, and the existence of a conjugal relationship, also with consent. CIC shared Information on the applicant’s residency/citizenship record with Canadian Heritage, with consent, for purposes of making a decision on eligibility for an ex gratia payment. Canadian Heritage also disclosed applicants’ personal information to HRSDC for purposes of confirming identity and conjugal relationships to establish eligibility for payment, with consent, and HRSDC disclosed information on identity or conjugal relationships, if any, to Canadian Heritage, with consent.

Annual Report on the Operation of the Canadian Multiculturalism Act

Federal institutions provide information to the department on how they implement the Canadian Multiculturalism Act. This input is compiled into an annual report which is tabled in Parliament within 5 sitting days of a new calendar year.

Under Section 8 of the Act, the Minister responsible for multiculturalism is required to prepare and table in Parliament an annual report on the operation of the Act. Section 3 of the Act requires federal institutions (departments, agencies and Crown Corporations) to carry out their activities in a way that responds to the multicultural reality of Canada, and to report on those activities through the Annual Report.

Multiculturalism Champions Network

The Multiculturalism Champions Network was created in 2005 and consists of members of federal institutions who play a leadership role in their organizations, ensuring that policies, programs, and practices are responsive to diversity and building awareness. There are currently Multiculturalism Champions in 95 federal institutions.

The Network facilitates the incorporation of a multiculturalism lens across the federal government and supports the implementation of the Canadian Multiculturalism Act.

Federal-Provincial-Territorial Network of Officials Responsible for Multiculturalism Issues (FPTORMI)

The Multiculturalism FPT network was established in 2005 and is co-chaired by a federal and an alternating provincial representative. The Multiculturalism FPT network provides an ongoing forum for FPT representatives to exchange information and engage in policy dialogue regarding programs, research and other issues concerning multiculturalism, diversity and anti-racism with the overarching objective of promoting inclusion and integration in Canada.

Manuals

• Access to Information Manual (AM)
• Citizenship Policy Manual (CP)
• Designated Medical Practitioner Handbook
• Enforcement (ENF) 12, 23, 27
• Foreign Worker Manual
• Guide to Handling Public Money (HPM)
• Human Rights Manual (RI)
• Information Sharing Manual (IN)
• Inland Processing (IP)
• Inland Processing (IP) 03 - In Canada processing of Convention Refugees Abroad and members of the Humanitarian Protected members abroad Classes
• Legislation (IL)
• Medical Officer’s Guidelines for Designated Medical Practitioner
• Medical Officer’s Handbook
• Operational Instructions
• Overseas Processing (OP)
• Policy on Contractual Arrangements, Grants and Contributions
• Presiding at Citizenship Ceremonies: A Guide for Order of Canada Recipients
• Privacy Manual (PM)
• Protected Persons (PP)
• Protocol Addressing Conduct Issues of Citizenship Judges
• Receivables Management Plan
• Reference (IL)
• Settlement Manual (SE)
• Single Officer Mission Manual (SOM)
• Temporary Foreign Worker Guidelines (FW)