Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) plays a central role in managing immigration to Canada, but it’s not the only government body involved in the process. The federal immigration system relies on close collaboration between IRCC and other departments, including the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). Together, these agencies ensure Canada’s immigration pathways are secure, efficient, and aligned with national goals.
IRCC is the lead department responsible for administering the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), the umbrella legislation that governs who can enter and remain in Canada. From determining program eligibility to evaluating application completeness and accuracy, IRCC ensures that immigration pathways support economic growth, family reunification, and humanitarian commitments.
Canada’s Minister of Immigration shares responsibility for IRPA enforcement with the Minister of Public Safety, who heads the CBSA. This partnership ensures that both policy and border-level decisions around immigration are consistent. While IRCC sets immigration levels and grants statuses like permanent residency and citizenship, CBSA oversees border enforcement and makes real-time admissibility decisions at ports of entry.
CBSA’s responsibilities include identifying individuals who may pose security risks or fall under categories of inadmissibility based on health, criminal history, or misrepresentation. To do this effectively, CBSA works closely with IRCC to access vital application and background information.
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) is another critical player. ESDC evaluates Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs), which are essential for employers hiring through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). These assessments determine whether hiring a foreign worker will have a neutral or positive impact on Canada’s labor market.
IRCC also works across departments to maintain cohesive immigration policy that feeds into Canada’s broader objectives. It sets annual targets for permanent resident admissions, allocates quotas across federal and provincial streams, and manages the intake of family sponsorships, economic immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.
In addition to immigration applications, IRCC processes requests for travel documents, manages settlement services, and guides newcomers through the citizenship process once they’re eligible.
At every stage, interdepartmental collaboration is essential—from strategy to enforcement. This system-wide integration helps Canada remain a global leader in managed migration, balancing the needs of newcomers with national security, economic development, and public trust.
According to Maple News, such collaboration between agencies ensures transparency, uniformity, and responsiveness in one of the world’s most sought-after immigration systems.