Maple News reports that a recent internal review led by former Deputy Minister of Immigration, Neil Yeates, has revealed notable inefficiencies within Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), particularly around its decision-making structure.
The report focuses on the operations of IRCC’s internal committees, which play a key role in shaping the department’s policies and strategy. Yeates underscores that these committees often exceed the optimal size of 8–12 members, leading to cumbersome meetings and diluted decision-making. “Large committee sizes make strategic discussions difficult and meetings increasingly time-consuming,” he noted.
The analysis calls for a significant overhaul of the department’s governance and management frameworks. Yeates recommends reorganizing IRCC around business-line structures, a shift that could clarify roles, streamline decision-making, and bolster overall accountability.
Additionally, he advocates for a revamped governance model with clearer mandates, alongside stronger internal processes for planning and reporting. These suggestions aim to align IRCC’s operations more effectively with its growing responsibilities as Canada ramps up efforts to meet ambitious immigration targets.
With record-breaking application volumes seen across various immigration streams—ranging from Express Entry to work and study permits—efficiency and agility are increasingly crucial. Reforming the governance structure, says the report, will allow IRCC to respond quicker to policy direction and deliver services more effectively to future newcomers.
A visual layout of the existing committee structure, current as of June 2023, was included in the report, illustrating the complexity and overlap within the agency’s governance framework.
As Canada increasingly relies on immigration to sustain economic growth and population goals, modernizing IRCC’s internal systems could be key to ensuring long-term success.
Maple News will continue to follow developments as the department considers implementing Yeates’ recommendations.