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Message from the new Deputy Minister Dear colleagues, I’m honoured to have been appointed Deputy Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). I assume this role with a deep sense of responsibility, as I recognize all of your hard work that has gone into making IRCC one of the most active and successful departments in government. As many of you know, I am no stranger to the department. In my former role, as Assistant Deputy Minister of Strategic Policy and Programs at IRCC, I led a team that was dedicated to maximising the benefits of immigration through policy and partnership. Now, as Deputy Minister, I can apply that experience to priorities across the spectrum of our mandate. I want to thank Lori MacDonald for acting in this role for the last few months. It has been a very busy time for IRCC and Lori has gone beyond the call of duty to keep things running smoothly. I appreciate Lori’s guidance during this transition and will continue to rely on her partnership and invaluable experience in the coming months. IRCC’s work has far reaching effects on Canada’s economy, our social wellbeing, and towards building a diverse and cohesive society. The work we do at IRCC also has lasting impacts on people, businesses, and communities around the world. Of course, there is also a significant humanitarian dimension to our work. In the last few years, the global movement of people has become more prevalent, more persistent, and more urgent than ever before. At the end of the day, we must always remember that everything IRCC works on touches people’s lives directly. Whether it is a family who wishes to be reunited here in Canada, an international student looking to broaden their horizons, or a refugee who desperately needs our country’s aid, the decisions we make every day have very profound implications for people’s lives and their future. For all of these reasons, I often look back on my experience with IRCC fondly. I truly enjoyed working at this Department, not only because of the issues that we deal with every day, but also because of the people here. I came to value working with such a highly-dedicated team of professionals, many of whom I have stayed in touch with over the years. I’m very proud to rejoin this team as your new Deputy Minister. I look forward to working with many of you once again and, for those who are newer to the Department, I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible in the weeks and months ahead. Thank you. Catrina Tapley Deputy Minister |
