Canada’s immigration department fired or suspended dozens of employees after internal investigations found misconduct involving fraud, time theft, racism, sexual harassment, violence and improper access to immigration records, according to a newly published Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada report.
The IRCC report says 105 cases of employee misconduct and wrongdoing were founded in the 2024-25 fiscal year. Those cases led to at least three terminations and 47 suspensions without pay. Some investigations began in earlier years but concluded during the last fiscal year.
The largest category involved attendance and work-hour issues. IRCC recorded 47 founded cases linked to time theft, tardiness, absenteeism or unauthorized leave.
One case involved an employee accused of working two full-time federal government jobs at the same time for three-and-a-half years. The employee was also accused of filing fake overtime claims and misleading supervisors about their work activity.
“In addition, the investigation revealed that the employee misrepresented his productivity by falsifying his activity reports, and by sending emails at certain times, which misled his supervisors into thinking that he was actively working,” a supplementary report on the case revealed.
The employee resigned during the investigation.
Another case cited “gross mismanagement” by an IRCC executive in Ottawa. The executive was accused of helping secure a promotion for a subordinate with whom they had a romantic relationship. The same executive also allegedly “routinely using highly disrespectful language toward staff and colleagues.”
Several cases raised concerns about access to sensitive immigration information. The report says employees improperly accessed case files for themselves, family members and friends.
In one case, an employee allegedly used IRCC’s case management system to collect information about a person they were pursuing legal action against.
The report also listed breaches involving workplace technology and electronic networks. Employees were accused of “downloading an unauthorized software on their computer that would prevent it from entering in sleep mode, viewing explicit content on their work computer, and connecting a hacking device to a work computer or network.”
Another employee posted outside Canada kept a public blog discussing embassy work, including private conversations with embassy staff, views on the host country’s people and government, and political opinions that could potentially damage IRCC’s reputation.
The misconduct findings also included racist comments, inappropriate touching, sexual harassment, violent behaviour and unauthorized credit card purchases.
Deputy immigration minister Ted Gallivan said the department handles decisions with major consequences for the public.
“In an organization of more than 10,000 employees, some level of wrongdoing will occur,” Gallivan wrote. “Reporting such matters is essential, as we are committed to reviewing all allegations of perceived misconduct or wrongdoing through thorough review and investigation, and to taking administrative action when warranted.”
Ottawa directed federal departments and agencies in 2024 to prepare annual misconduct and wrongdoing reports. The IRCC findings now place new attention on internal accountability at a department central to Canada’s immigration system.
