When Was the Department of Citizenship and Immigration Established?

The Department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada was established in 1994 to better serve immigrants with their immigration and citizenship needs.

The executive in charge of this department is the honourable Jason Kenney, the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, and is assisted by his Deputy Minister, Neil Yeates.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada employs approximately five thousand people to handle permanent residency applications and cards, requests for information and citizenship certificates to name a few of their duties.

The Department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada was originally called the Department of Immigration and Colonization from 1917 to 1936.

In 1936, immigration responsibilities were placed under the jurisdiction of the Department of Mines and resources until 1950.

From 1950 to 1966, the department became independent again and was known as the Department of Citizenship and Immigration (Notice the similarity to the current name, however, “Department” is no longer used in department names and Canada is currently added to the end of the title).

For eleven years, from 1966 to 1977, immigration and citizenship duties were placed under the Department of Manpower and Immigration.  During this period of time, the department was also under the Department of State for Citizenship and remained under this designation until 1991.

From 1977 to 1991 the department was known as the Department for Employment and Immigration.

From 1991 to 1994 (and the most current naming convention) Citizenship and Immigration Canada was known as the Department of Multiculturalism and Citizenship. This remains part of the department’s tradition in the official title of the executive (Minister of Multiculturalism and Immigration).