C-212Department 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 18, 2025
- Status
- At second reading in the House of Commons since June 18, 2025
What it does
Creates an Ombud for Citizenship and Immigration to review complaints, investigate unfair treatment, and report findings and recommendations.
What it does
- Establishes the Office of the Ombud for the Department of Citizenship and Immigration, and sets seven-year terms, eligibility rules, pay, staff, and office location.
- Gives the Ombud power to review department policies, programmes, training, and processing standards for fairness, bias, racism, and discrimination.
- Allows any person to complain, and lets the Ombud investigate on their own, at the minister's request, or after a complaint.
- Lets the Ombud summon witnesses, require documents and information, and make reports to the minister and complainants with findings and recommendations.
- Requires the minister to respond to the Ombud's recommendations, publish annual and special reports, and comply with a parliamentary review every five years.
- Amends the Language Skills Act and several other Acts to add the new office to federal lists and schedules.
Who it affects
- Immigration and citizenship applicants
- People who file complaints
- Department of Citizenship and Immigration
- Minister of Citizenship and Immigration
- Ombud office
- Federal public servants
Background
The bill says the Ombud would examine department practices to ensure they are fair, equitable, unbiased, non-racist and non-discriminatory, including systemic racism and systemic discrimination.
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
What MPs said
Each party’s first speech on this bill in the House, from Hansard. Excerpts are the speaker’s opening sentences, unedited.
NDPJenny Kwan· June 18, 2025
“Moved for leave to introduce Bill C-212, 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.”
Read the full speech on openparliament.ca
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.