October 31, 2016 – Ottawa, Ontario – The Honourable John McCallum, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced today the Government of Canada’s intention to lift the visa requirements for Romanian and Bulgarian citizens on December 1, 2017. It demonstrates the importance that the Government of Canada places on its relationship with both countries and with the EU more broadly.

Federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for immigration met today in Winnipeg to talk about the future of immigration in Canada. Ministers discussed how immigration can support sustainable, long-term economic growth across the country while celebrating diversity and encouraging the inclusion of all newcomers to Canada.

In celebration of Citizenship Week (October 10-16), Federal-Provincial-Territorial Meeting Co-Chairs, the Honourable John McCallum, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, and the Honourable Ian Wishart, Manitoba Minister of Education and Training and Minister responsible for Immigration, will attend a special citizenship ceremony at the Canadian Museum of Human Rights. They will be joined by Provincial-Territorial Ministers responsible for Immigration to welcome 20 new citizens.

Citizenship Week is being celebrated across Canada from October 10 to 16, 2016, and we want to know what being Canadian means to you.

Young people from Canada and the Republic of San Marino, located in the Italian Peninsula, will now have more opportunities to work and travel abroad, thanks to the signing of a Working Holiday Youth Mobility Arrangement between the two countries.