Full exclusive interview with Canada’s immigration minister

CIC News met Immigration Minister Sean Fraser on June 21 to discuss current events relating to Canadian immigration.

Fraser was appointed minister last fall, shortly after the 2021 Canadian federal election. As the head of Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Fraser is tasked with implementing the Canadian prime minister's policy priorities, which are outlined in the minister's mandate letter.

The minister is also responsible for overseeing Canada's citizenship program, making decisions related to immigration policy, and tabling an immigration levels plan every year before November 1, except during an election.

Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

We released the interview in eight segments so that we could elaborate on each question. Fraser discussed a variety of topics topics including Express Entry reforms and the date of the first all-program Express Entry draw in 18 months. Since then, all-program draws have resumed and the bill that proposed the changes to Express Entry has passed. We have also learned that the new Express Entry draws that invite candidates based on an economic goal will start to be implemented early 2023.

Fraser also touched on IRCC service standards, citizenship fees, immigration levels, and new PR pathways. We also asked him what's on his bucket list as Canada's immigration minister, and how his life has changed since he accepted the role.

Here are all of our articles from the interview, which took place at the 2022 Collision conference on June 21:

Part 1: Express Entry all-program draws tentatively resuming on July 6

Immigration Minister Sean Fraser says Canada would resume all-program Express Entry draws on Wednesday, July 6, 2022. As the minister said, the draw took place on that day. A total of 1,500 Express Entry candidates were invited to apply for permanent residence.