Immigration department gains new powers to share personal information with other government bodies

Plain-language summary · AI-assisted · not legal advice

The Department of Citizenship and Immigration can now formally share personal information it holds — such as identity details, immigration status, and document records — both internally within the department and externally with other federal or provincial government bodies, agencies, and Crown corporations. External sharing requires a written agreement that spells out what data can be shared, why, and limits on how recipients can use or pass it on. Provincial and territorial recipients are prohibited from sharing that information with foreign entities without the Minister's written consent and in a way that respects Canada's obligations against complicity in mistreatment. Regulations can be made to impose further conditions or limits on any of this sharing. Organizations that receive immigration data from the department should review their data-handling agreements and internal policies to ensure they comply with the new written-agreement requirements and re-transfer restrictions.

Who this affects: federal government departments and agencies · provincial government ministries and agencies · federal and provincial Crown corporations · individuals whose immigration records are held by the department · privacy and compliance officers handling government data-sharing agreements