C-399Department of Citizenship and Immigration Ombud Act
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
Private member's bill, introduced in the House of Commons on June 13, 2024
- Status
- At second reading in the House of Commons since June 13, 2024
What it does
Creates an ombud office to review Citizenship and Immigration practices, take complaints, make recommendations, and report to Parliament.
What it does
- Creates the Office of the Ombud for the Department of Citizenship and Immigration and sets a seven-year appointment process for the ombud, with approval by the Senate and House of Commons.
- Gives the ombud power to examine whether the department’s practices are fair, equitable, unbiased, non-racist and non-discriminatory, including in decisions under the Citizenship Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
- Lets any person file a complaint and allows the ombud to investigate on their own, at the minister’s request, or after a complaint, with powers to summon witnesses, require records and take evidence.
- Requires the ombud to send reports to the minister and complainant, and requires the minister to reply with steps taken or reasons for not following recommendations.
- Adds the ombud to the Language Skills Act and makes related changes to access to information, privacy, financial administration, superannuation and compensation laws.
- Requires annual reports, allows special reports, and sets a parliamentary review of the Act every five years after it comes into force.
Who it affects
- People dealing with Citizenship and Immigration
- Immigrants and citizenship applicants
- Department of Citizenship and Immigration
- Parliament
- The ombud’s office
Background
The bill says the new office would review the department’s practices and investigate unfairness, bias, racism and discrimination in its decision-making. It would not review matters that happened before the office was created unless the minister asks.
Where it is
House of Commons
First reading
Completed.
Second reading
Current stage. Now here
Committee
Not reached.
Report stage
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Senate
First reading
Not reached.
Second reading
Not reached.
Committee
Not reached.
Third reading
Not reached.
Royal assent
Royal assent
Not reached.
Introduced by an MP who is not a minister. These bills compete in a lottery for debate time, and most do not become law. How a bill becomes law
How the House voted
No recorded votes yet
Read the source
LEGISinfo status: Outside the Order of Precedence. Bill data from LEGISinfo, votes from openparliament.ca and the House of Commons. Last updated October 13, 2026.