November Named National Immigration Month

Summary#

This bill designates November as “National Immigration Month” across Canada every year. It is a symbolic recognition. It does not change immigration rules, create programs, or require activities by governments or schools (National Immigration Month).

• Designates November as National Immigration Month nationwide (National Immigration Month).
• Contains a preamble that recognizes immigrants’ contributions to Canada’s society and economy (Preamble).
• Does not create new rights, obligations, or penalties (bill text).
• Does not include funding or reporting requirements (bill text).
• Aligns with existing National Francophone Immigration Week in November and notes the November 1, 2001 royal assent of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Preamble).

What it means for you#

• Households
  • You may see more public messages or optional community events in November. Participation is voluntary. No services change is required by the bill (National Immigration Month).
• Workers and Employers
  • No changes to work permits, hiring rules, or workplace obligations. Any workplace observance would be voluntary (bill text).
• Newcomers and Applicants
  • No change to immigration applications, processing times, fees, or eligibility. This is a symbolic designation only (bill text).
• Schools and Educators
  • No mandate to teach specific content or run events. Some may choose to highlight immigration topics in November, but it is optional (bill text).
• Local, Provincial/Territorial, and Federal Governments
  • No required programs, reports, or funding. Agencies may acknowledge the month in communications at their discretion (bill text).

Expenses#

Estimated net cost: Data unavailable.

• No fiscal note published. Data unavailable.
• No appropriations, taxes, fees, or mandated spending in the bill (bill text).
• The bill makes a designation only; it does not require activities that would trigger direct costs (National Immigration Month).
• Any observance activities by governments or organizations would be voluntary and not mandated by the bill (bill text).

Proponents' View#

• Recognizes immigrants’ social, cultural, and economic contributions at the national level, creating a clear time to highlight them (Preamble).
• Supports public education about the role of immigration in building Canada, including for children and future generations (Preamble).
• Aligns with existing National Francophone Immigration Week and the November 1 anniversary of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, offering coherence in timing (Preamble).
• Imposes no new obligations and no mandated spending, minimizing administrative burden (bill text).
• Provides a consistent national label that community groups and institutions can choose to use for events and outreach (National Immigration Month).

Opponents' View#

• Symbolic only: does not change immigration policy, services, or outcomes for newcomers (bill text).
• Potential duplication or confusion with existing recognitions, such as National Francophone Immigration Week in November (Preamble).
• Could crowd the calendar of commemorative periods without measurable impact, since no actions or metrics are required (bill text).
• May create informal expectations for agencies or schools to run events without dedicated resources, even though the bill does not mandate activities (bill text).