Background on the Cabinet Reshuffle

Following the Liberal Party’s victory in the federal election, Canada’s new Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced the formation of a new cabinet. Lena Metlege Diab, Member of Parliament for Halifax West, has been appointed as the new Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC), replacing Rachel Bendayan. This reshuffle follows the common Canadian political practice of adjusting cabinet roles to reflect shifting policy priorities in a new government.

Note: Rachel Bendayan had only been in the role since March 2025, when she replaced Marc Miller during a major cabinet reshuffle earlier this year.

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Profile of the New Minister

🧑‍⚖️ Political and Legal Background

• Served as Nova Scotia’s Minister of Immigration from 2013 to 2021
• First woman of Lebanese descent elected to a legislature in Canada
• First woman to serve as Attorney General and Minister of Justice in Nova Scotia

📈 Immigration Policy Achievements

• Achieved record-high nominations of permanent residents in Nova Scotia
• Introduced new immigration entrepreneur streams
• Pioneered the alignment of provincial nomination pilots with the federal Express Entry system

🧩 Diverse Cabinet Experience

• Simultaneously served as Minister of Acadian Affairs and Francophonie
• Former Minister of Labour and Advanced Education

🌍 Personal Background

• Second-generation Lebanese Canadian, born in Halifax
• Trilingual: English, French, and Arabic
• Education: B.Comm from Saint Mary’s University; LL.B from Dalhousie University
• Practiced law and ran a small business before entering politics
• Served seven consecutive terms as President of the Canadian-Lebanon Society of Halifax — its first female president

💬 Political Philosophy

She has publicly stated that her values are grounded in diversity, inclusion, collaboration, and fairness.

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Carney Government’s Likely Immigration Direction

(based on past statements by the Prime Minister)
• Scale back permanent resident admissions to “sustainable” levels
• Continue supporting economic-class immigration
• Increase francophone immigration
• Reduce the number of temporary residents

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The Importance of Immigration in Canada

🔧 Key Role in the Economy

• Immigration accounts for nearly 100% of labour force and population growth
• Essential for addressing labour shortages across sectors

⚖️ Unique Powers of the Immigration Department

• Can implement temporary public policies without parliamentary approval
• Typical examples include:
– Changes to work permit eligibility
– Modifications to international student work-hour limits

📢 High Public and Political Attention

Because immigration policies directly affect workers, students, families, and employers, the immigration portfolio remains a central focus of both public scrutiny and political decision-making in Canada.

Source：https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2025/05/13/prime-minister-announces-new-ministry