In a significant cabinet reshuffle, Mark Carney has appointed Lena Diab, the former Immigration Minister of Nova Scotia, as Canada’s new Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship. This appointment comes at a time of heightened political debate surrounding immigration in Canada, and it is expected to have a profound impact on the country’s international education sector.
Diab, who served as the Immigration Minister in Nova Scotia for eight years until 2021, is one of over 20 new faces joining Carney’s cabinet. Her experience in managing immigration growth during her tenure in the province has been widely praised. Matthew McDonald, a Canadian immigration consultant, emphasized that Diab brings significant potential due to her experience overseeing immigration during a period of rapid growth in Nova Scotia.
Another aspect of Diab’s experience that may have played a role in her appointment is her work as the Minister for Acadian Affairs and French-speaking communities in Nova Scotia. This experience aligns with the increasing emphasis on the French language in Canada’s immigration programs, particularly outside of Quebec.
Diab replaces Rachel Bendayan, who held the position for just two months following the dismissal of Marc Miller and Carney’s subsequent leadership of the Liberal Party. Diab’s appointment marks a new chapter for the immigration portfolio at a time when Canadian immigration policy is under intense scrutiny.
Vinitha Gengatharan, Executive Director of the International Office at Simon Fraser University, welcomed Diab’s appointment, citing her in-depth understanding of regional differences and requirements in immigration files. Gengatharan expressed hope that Diab would approach the international student program with more attention to detail and engage directly with the higher education sector, especially given the criticism that the federal and provincial governments had not consulted stakeholders adequately in the past.
The appointment of Diab follows a period of political turmoil in Canada’s immigration policy under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, where no immigration minister served for more than two years. There is now a collective hope that the new government will bring stability to immigration policy and end the turmoil seen in 2024. McDonald expressed optimism that Diab’s background in managing immigration growth in Nova Scotia would serve her well in balancing the interests of various stakeholders while addressing public concerns.
The new cabinet follows Carney’s victory in the 2025 federal election, where the Liberals defeated the Conservatives in a race dominated by former U.S. President Donald Trump. Carney’s office released a statement on May 13, noting that Canadians had elected the new government with a strong mandate to redefine the country’s economic and security relationship with the United States. Carney’s cabinet will consist of 28 ministers, a reduction from the nearly 40 ministers in Trudeau’s previous cabinet.
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