Section 95 and Canadian Immigration

Section 95 shares Canadian immigration insights you can trust.

Section 95 of Canada’s Constitution Act, 1867 defines immigration as an area of shared federal-provincial jurisdiction. Upon Canada’s founding, immigration was viewed as so important to the country’s success that it was formally outlined as one of only three areas of shared responsibility.

Yet, the federal government went on to dominate Canada’s immigration system for much of the next 130 years. Things, however, have changed significantly since the late-1990s. Due to their rapidly aging populations and low birth rates, the provinces have increasingly turned to immigration to support economic development.

Today, both levels of government are so involved in the area that they offer over 200 permanent and temporary resident pathways. This provides foreign nationals with more choice than ever to come to Canada, but it also results in the world’s most complex immigration system.