Bill Detail
An Act to establish the Office of the Ombud for the Department of Citizenship and Immigration and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts
This enactment establishes the Office of the Ombud for the Department of Citizenship and Immigration and sets out the Ombud’s powers, duties and functions. It also makes a related amendment to the Languages Skills Act and consequential amendments to certain other Acts.
Bill C-212 proposes to create an independent office, the Ombud for the Department of Citizenship and Immigration. This Ombud would be appointed through a rigorous process involving consultations with Senate and House of Commons leaders and would have powers to investigate potential unfairness, inequity, bias, racism, or discrimination within the department's practices and decision-making. The office would review policies and programs and make recommendations to the Minister to address identified problems. Anyone who believes they have been treated unfairly by the department can make a complaint to the Ombud. This bill would affect individuals interacting with Canadian citizenship and immigration services, aiming to ensure these services are administered fairly and without discrimination.