Canada’s federal immigration department has released a damning report detailing serious internal misconduct by staff, including bribery attempts, privacy breaches, racism, and workplace harassment.
The 2023–2024 misconduct report, published on 13 June by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), confirms 62 founded cases of unethical behaviour across its workforce. The revelations mark the first time the department has publicly documented such internal issues.
Among the most serious breaches was a case officer, reportedly under financial stress, who asked a colleague whether they would take money in exchange for approving a study permit. Although the officer later claimed their computer had been hacked, an investigation found this to be a fabrication. Their security clearance was revoked.
Twelve employees were caught accessing confidential immigration files without authorisation—some driven by curiosity, others attempting to help relatives or friends. Several even requested colleagues to fast-track applications or alter official records.
Nine cases involved racist comments, threatening behaviour, or harassment within the workplace. One staff member was suspended without pay after making discriminatory remarks about a specific nationality. Another was found to have developed a personal relationship with an asylum seeker, co-signed their car loan, and offered departmental advice—actions flagged as a serious conflict of interest.
Other breaches included 37 instances of time theft, unauthorised absenteeism, and misuse of government resources. Some staff were caught cheating on internal assessments or failing to declare personal conflicts of interest in dealings with clients.
Of the 76 cases investigated, 62 were confirmed as misconduct. IRCC employs about 13,000 staff globally, including in Canadian embassies.
While the report highlights only a small portion of the workforce, Deputy Minister Harpreet S. Kochhar acknowledged that these were likely just the incidents that were detected or reported.
“We are grateful to the courageous employees who raised concerns or blew the whistle,” Kochhar said, adding that IRCC is committed to building a culture of openness and zero tolerance for misconduct.
The department has responded with disciplinary measures, mandatory training, and strengthened internal oversight. Managers are now required to report all privacy breaches to the internal privacy division for further investigation.
Despite existing safeguards—such as mandatory security screenings, task rotation, quality audits, and digital monitoring—the recurrence of these issues suggests persistent gaps in enforcement and supervision.
“This report reflects our journey towards continuous improvement, integrity, and excellence,” said Kochhar.
“We encourage all employees to speak up without fear of reprisal.”
The release of this inaugural misconduct report signals a push for greater accountability within IRCC, but also serves as a sobering reminder of the challenges that remain in safeguarding the integrity of Canada’s immigration system.
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