Video of Prime Minister Mark Carney to be Screened at Citizenship Ceremonies

 

 

Reports indicate that a video featuring Prime Minister Mark Carney will be screened during citizenship ceremonies held for new citizens in Canada. This information was revealed through access-to-information documents released by 'Blacklock's Reporter.' Although regulations stipulate that citizenship ceremonies must be strictly non-political, government guidelines do permit elected officials to participate in such events.

A note in French states that the Department of Immigration has confirmed the upcoming availability of a bilingual congratulatory video from Prime Minister Mark Carney for ceremonies welcoming new citizens. Anahita Beladi, a spokesperson for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, stated that this pre-recorded message will be shown during ceremonies—whether held online or in person—following the taking of the Oath of Citizenship. However, specific details regarding the content of the Prime Minister's message are not yet available.

The official website clarifies that elected officials—such as Senators, Members of Parliament (MPs), and mayors—are not permitted to host or sponsor citizenship ceremonies in their personal or political capacity. While they may attend as special guests, they are not authorized to plan or oversee the proceedings. The Minister of Immigration is the only official granted an exemption from this rule. More than 3,000 citizenship ceremonies take place in Canada every year.