On May 13, 2025, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the appointment of Lena Metlege Diab as the new Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
She served as Nova Scotia’s Minister of Immigration from 2013 to 2021. She also became the first woman of Lebanese descent elected to the legislature in Canada and the first woman to hold the positions of Attorney General and Minister of Justice in Nova Scotia’s history. Diab also served as Nova Scotia’s Minister of Acadian and Francophone Affairs, Minister of Labour, and Minister of Advanced Education.
It is worth noting that, as the province’s Minister of Immigration, Diab achieved significant success in developing Nova Scotia’s immigration program: including appointing a record number of permanent residents, attracting immigrant entrepreneurs, and introducing new Express Entry pilot programs for provincial immigration. In anticipation of the publication of the priorities of the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), we suggest recalling the areas of activity that Carney previously expressed support for:
✔Reducing permanent immigration to a “sustainable” level;
✔Supporting further economic immigration to Canada;
✔Increasing the level of French-speaking immigration;
✔Reducing the level of temporary residence.
We look forward to positive dynamics in immigration after the arrival of the new head of the Ministry.
