the CanadaVisa Team - 21 July, 2015
With Prime Minister Stephen Harper's recent cabinet shuffle, Jason Kenney, the former Secretary of State for Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity has been appointed as the new Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism.
Jason Kenney was first elected to the House of Commons in 1997, and was re-elected in 2000, 2004, 2006, and 2008. In addition to his role as Secretary of State for Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity, Kenney has served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, as Chair of the Subcommittee on International Human Rights and the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development, and as a member of the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics.
Since taking on his role as Secretary of State for Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity in January 2007, Kenney has been instrumental in building a connection between Canadian immigrants and the Conservative Party. He has attended over 400 cultural events, has held consultations with immigrant groups, and has heard their concerns first-hand.
In his new role as Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, he will be taking over the task of rolling out the amendments to Canada's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, introduced by his predecessor, Diane Finley.
Finley has been moved back to Human Resources and Social Development Canada (ESDC), the portfolio that she left in 2006 to take over immigration. ESDC andCitizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) are working closely together to ensure that Canada's newcomers can help address the country's labour force needs.
