Lena Diab
CanadapoliticianFemale7.0Global Dominance: 0.01%Lena Diab is a Canadian politician serving as the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. Born in Halifax to Lebanese immigrants, she has a strong background in law and previously served as the chair of the Commons Justice and Human Rights Committee. Diab has a history of public service, notably as a former Liberal member of the Nova Scotia Assembly and minister of immigration. First elected to the House of Commons in 2021, she has been active in addressing issues related to immigration and human rights.
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Recent news mentions
Lena Diab is the Immigration Minister who announced expedited visa processing for Gazan students.
Some Palestinian student visas being expedited after long waitCanada· 2026-06-02
According to recent announcements by Immigration Minister Lena Diab, Ottawa is prioritizing permanent residence for people who are already in Canada.
Canada can offer comfort to Ukrainians with a path to permanent residencyCanada· 2026-01-19
Lena Diab is the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship in Canada.
Officials processing foreign nationals’ visas, permanent-residence applications will not face job cuts: ministerCanada· 2026-01-19
Immigration Minister Lena Diab said she is aware of the policy changes in the United States, though she suggested there are no plans to shift Canada’s participation in the agreement.
Trump’s halting of asylum claims prompts fresh calls to suspend Safe Third Country AgreementCanada· 2025-12-02
Lena Diab took over the immigration minister role after Rachel Bendayan.
Once too close to Trudeau for a Carney cabinet, Marc Miller is backCanada· 2025-12-02
Lena Diab, the Immigration Minister, stated that Canada remains deeply concerned by the ongoing conflict in Sudan.
Canada must fast-track Sudanese fleeing atrocities, says former justice minister Irwin CotlerCanada· 2025-11-26
Lena Diab is mentioned in a letter from a migrant-rights group calling for temporary work permits for affected workers.
Group asks feds to grant EI, open work permits to foreign workers affected by Hurricane MelissaCanada· 2025-11-10
Immigration Minister Lena Diab says her department will prioritize foreigners living in Canada for permanent residency.
Federal budget 2025: Foreigners living in Canada will get permanent residence priority, Immigration Minister saysCanada· 2025-11-06
The full immigration-levels plan, to be published shortly by Immigration Minister Lena Diab, will address sectors hit by tariffs 'and the unique needs of rural and remote communities.'
Federal budget 2025: Ottawa's immigration plan halves international student intakeCanada· 2025-11-05
Immigration Minister Lena Diab expressed her pleasure that the bill is proceeding in the right direction.
MPs vote to reverse Conservative changes to Lost Canadians billCanada· 2025-11-04
Immigration Minister Lena Diab has come under intense pressure to speed up the processing of applications from the families of Sudanese Canadians.
Canadians say relatives in Sudan receiving visas after massacresCanada· 2025-10-30
Lena Diab's office declined to comment on the individual case of Uthman ibn Farooq.
Islamic preacher barred from entering Canada for speaking tour, months after being banned from U.K.Canada· 2025-10-24
Dr. Mazerolle said the Atlantic universities have provided Immigration Minister Lena Diab with a regional immigration strategy that would create what he called a sustainable international student enrolment program.
Atlantic Canada sees sharp decline in international student enrolmentCanada· 2025-10-16
Lena Diab is the Immigration Minister who was referenced during a moment of confusion in Parliament.
Carney, Poilievre face off for first time in ParliamentCanada· 2025-09-16
Lena Diab is the Immigration Minister consulting on the coming 2025 targets for new permanent and temporary foreign residents.
Most Canadians favour scaling back immigration and temporary resident numbers, poll showsCanada· 2025-09-10
Lena Diab is the Immigration Minister whose director of communications noted the Safe Third Country Agreement would apply to these cases.
Canada making no promises on asylum for Russian dissidents being held in U.S. detentionCanada· 2025-09-04
A spokeswoman for Immigration Minister Lena Diab said there was a significant drop in the number of temporary foreign workers arriving in Canada in the first six months of this year.
Poilievre accuses Liberals of allowing temporary foreign workers take jobs from CanadiansCanada· 2025-08-27
Lena Diab is Mr. Carney's point person on immigration.
Carney’s cabinet has had 100 days to change Canada. What has it done so far?Canada· 2025-08-22
Lena Diab is the immigration minister consulting on targets for the number of temporary and permanent residents Canada plans to allow.
Ottawa pressed to factor in 500,000 undocumented residents as it consults on immigration targetsCanada· 2025-08-13
Immigration Minister Lena Diab is preparing to crack down on unscrupulous immigration consultants.
Minister planning new powers to clamp down on fraudulent immigration consultantsCanada· 2025-08-09
Lena Diab is the Immigration Minister being urged to grant Canadian citizenship to Jimmy Lai.
Immigration minister urged to grant jailed Hong Kong publisher Jimmy Lai citizenshipCanada· 2025-08-02
Isabelle Buchanan, a spokesperson for federal Immigration Minister Lena Diab, said that refugee claimants must submit a complete claim for refugee protection online.
Ford walks back vow to have province issue asylum seekers work permitsCanada· 2025-07-28
Mr. Ford slammed federal Immigration Minister Lena Diab, accusing her of being offside with Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Premiers push for more power over immigration as Ford takes aim at federal ministerCanada· 2025-07-23
Lena Diab replaced Rachel Bendayan as the immigration minister.
Ottawa’s hotel bill for asylum seekers reaches $1.1-billionCanada· 2025-07-23
A spokesperson for Immigration Minister Lena Diab said the government cannot comment on individual cases due to privacy legislation.
Immigration minister won’t say if Canada considering barring British, Irish artists over festival performancesCanada· 2025-07-15
A spokeswoman from Immigration Minister Lena Diab’s office said in an e-mailed reply that the office can’t comment on specific cases due to privacy legislation.
LGBTQ refugee group says number of requests for help has spiked since 2020Canada· 2025-06-18
Lena Diab is the Immigration Minister who has the power to grant Jimmy Lai honorary citizenship.
Government told Liberal MP to shelve motion on honorary citizenship for Jimmy LaiCanada· 2025-06-12
Immigration Minister Lena Diab was asked if she would grant Mr. Lai honorary citizenship on Monday.
MPs set to vote on motion seeking honorary citizenship for jailed Hong Kong businessman Jimmy LaiCanada· 2025-06-11Immigration Minister Lena Diab reintroduced a bill to grant citizenship to children born abroad to foreign-born Canadians.
Ottawa retables ‘Lost Canadians’ bill in bid to restore citizenship rights before court deadlineCanada· 2025-06-06
Canada's immigration minister Lena Diab said the Strong Borders Act is meant to curb organised crime.
Canada proposes sweeping immigration and security bill
United Kingdom· 2025-06-04