Canada to appoint Ted Gallivan as new deputy minister of immigration

On March 4, 2026, the Prime Minister’s Office announced a senior public service change affecting Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Ted Gallivan is set to become Deputy Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, with the change expected to take effect in the coming weeks.

This update is important for readers because deputy ministers oversee how departments run day-to-day. However, a deputy minister appointment does not automatically mean immigration rules or programs will change overnight.

What was announced on March 4, 2026

In an official news release, the Prime Minister stated that Ted Gallivan, currently the Interim Deputy National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister, will move into the deputy minister role at IRCC. The government did not publish an exact start date, only that it will occur “in the coming weeks.”

The same announcement confirmed that Dr. Harpreet S. Kochhar, IRCC’s deputy minister since January 2024, will become President of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

Who is Ted Gallivan

The Prime Minister’s published backgrounder lists Mr. Gallivan’s recent roles and experience:

Interim Deputy National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister (since February 2025, on assignment)
Executive Vice-President, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) (since September 2021)
Multiple senior leadership roles at the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) from 2005–2021, focused on compliance and operations

His education is listed as a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Concordia University.

What a deputy minister actually does (why this matters)

A deputy minister is the department’s senior public servant (often called the “deputy head”). They support the minister by:

providing advice on policy and implementation, and
managing the department’s operations, people, and resources.

That means this change matters mostly for program delivery and internal management at IRCC—not for instant changes to eligibility rules.

What immigration applicants should (and should not) expect

Do not assume this appointment changes your application outcome.
Do continue to rely on official IRCC pages for program updates, forms, and processing information.
If you are following major programs (Express Entry, family sponsorship, study/work permits), focus on official announcements rather than social media predictions.

FAQ

When does Ted Gallivan start as IRCC deputy minister?
The government said the change will take effect “in the coming weeks,” but did not give a specific date.

Does a new deputy minister change immigration rules?
Not by itself. Policy changes require formal decisions and published guidance from the government/IRCC.

Who is being replaced?
Dr. Harpreet S. Kochhar, deputy minister since January 2024, is moving to lead CFIA.

Reality check

This is a leadership and administration update, not an immigration “program change” announcement. Applicants should keep expectations realistic: timelines, eligibility, and document requirements will still depend on published IRCC rules and your individual situation.