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Monte Solberg was sworn in as Minister of Citizenship and Immigration on February 6, 2006, as part of the Cabinet of Canada’s new government. Minister Solberg represents the riding of Medicine Hat (Alberta). He was first elected to the House of Commons in 1993, and was re-elected in 1997, 2000, 2004 and 2006.

Together with Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Minister Solberg has already delivered on significant commitments to newcomers and Canadians:

• reduced the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) in half to ease the financial burden on newcomers;
• invested $18 million for Foreign Credential Recognition to help immigrants succeed;
• invested $307 million for additional settlement funding for newcomers to help immigrants better integrate;
• introduced legislation to extend citizenship to foreign-born children adopted by Canadians families;
• launched off-campus work permits for international students to help attract and retain skilled, young newcomers to Canada;
• announced measures to protect victims of human trafficking;
• worked with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to welcome 810 Karen refugees to Canada;
• announced the creation of temporary foreign worker units in Calgary and Vancouver;
• helped speed up the process for immigrant entrepreneurs to get to British Columbia;
• launched a strategic plan to encourage immigration to Francophone communities outside of Quebec; and
• changed the visa requirement for Estonian citizens so that they no longer require a temporary resident visa to visit Canada.

Minister Solberg has also been very active in meeting with and speaking to stakeholders, including his provincial and territorial counterparts, businesses, settlement service providers, community organizations, academics, immigration lawyers, foreign diplomats and many newcomers to Canada.

Prior to his appointment as Minister, Minister Solberg served as finance critic for the official opposition. His previous parliamentary experience includes periods as critic for Human Resources Development, National Revenue and Foreign Affairs.

Minister Solberg has been Vice-Chair of the standing committees on Finance, on Human Resources Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities, and on Foreign Affairs and International Trade. He was also a member of the executive of the Canada-U.S. Parliamentary Association and, from 1999 to 2002, a delegate to the Canada-U.S. annual meetings.

Before entering public life, he was a successful broadcaster. He was also a director of the Alberta Association of Broadcasters. Minister Solberg and his wife Debra have two sons.

Contact the Minister

e-Mail

You may send comments to the Honourable Monte Solberg at Minister@cic.gc.ca.

Please note that if you want application status information or to change your address, you may do so using our on-line services. Case status enquiries and change-of-address requests are not handled via the Minister’s e-mail address.

Mail

Please write to:

The Honourable Monte Solberg, P.C., M.P.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 1L1