Who Is Ted Gallivan?
On March 4, 2026, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a major reshuffle in the senior ranks of Canada's public service. Among the changes: Ted Gallivan, most recently the interim deputy national security and intelligence advisor to the Prime Minister, was named Deputy Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
The deputy minister is the highest-ranking civil servant in the department. Unlike the Minister of Immigration (currently Rachel Bendayan), the deputy minister is non-political. They run the day-to-day operations of IRCC, manage the department's budget, oversee staffing, and execute policy direction set by the government.
Gallivan's appointment is part of a broader shake-up that also saw Glenn Purves (from BlackRock) become Deputy Minister of International Trade, David Morrison shift to Senior Diplomatic Advisor, and Arun Thangaraj move to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Gallivan's Career: 20+ Years in Compliance and Enforcement
Ted Gallivan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Concordia University. He started his public service career in 1991 as a summer intern at the GST Interim Processing Centre.
His career path tells a clear story: enforcement, compliance, and operational management.
Canada Revenue Agency (2005 to 2021)
Gallivan spent 16 years at the CRA, climbing through increasingly senior roles:
- Director, Internal Audit, Tax Operations (2005 to 2008)
- Director, Business Registration and Corporation Programs (2008 to 2010)
- Director, Summerside Tax Centre (2010)
- Director General, Business Returns Directorate (2010 to 2013)
- Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Collections and Verification Branch (2013 to 2014)
- Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Compliance Programs Branch (2014 to 2016)
- Assistant Commissioner, Compliance Programs Branch (2016 to 2021)
His final five years at CRA were spent running the entire Compliance Programs Branch, the division responsible for ensuring Canadians and businesses follow tax law.
Canada Border Services Agency (2021 to 2025)
In October 2021, Gallivan became Executive Vice-President of the CBSA, the agency responsible for border control, customs enforcement, and immigration enforcement at ports of entry. This gave him direct experience with the immigration system's front lines: processing arrivals, managing removals, and enforcing admissibility rules.
National Security Advisor Role (2025 to 2026)
Before his IRCC appointment, Gallivan served as interim deputy national security and intelligence advisor to the Prime Minister, a role focused on national security coordination across government agencies.
Who Is He Replacing? Dr. Harpreet S. Kochhar's Tenure
Gallivan replaces Dr. Harpreet S. Kochhar, who served as IRCC Deputy Minister since January 2024. Kochhar was no stranger to the department. He had previously served as Assistant Deputy Minister of Operations at IRCC from 2017 to 2020, advising four different immigration ministers during that earlier stint.
Before returning to IRCC, Kochhar led the Public Health Agency of Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic (2021 to 2023) and served as president of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Key Changes During Kochhar's Watch (2024 to 2026)
Kochhar oversaw IRCC during one of the most significant policy shifts in recent Canadian immigration history:
- Temporary resident cap announced: In 2024, the government committed to reducing temporary residents to 5% of Canada's total population over three years, the first time Canada set hard targets for temporary immigration.
- Permanent resident targets slashed: The 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan cut PR admissions from 485,000 (2024) to 395,000 (2025), with further reductions planned.
- International student cap: IRCC introduced annual caps on study permits, with a further 10% reduction in 2025 compared to 2024 targets.
- PGWP tightening: Post-Graduation Work Permit eligibility was narrowed to better align with labor market needs.
- Spousal work permit restrictions: Work permit access for spouses of international students and temporary foreign workers was restricted.
- Low-wage TFWP cuts: The employer cap for lower-wage temporary workers was dropped from 20% to 10% of workforce, with exemptions only for construction, healthcare, and food processing.
- Operational modernization: Kochhar led efforts to speed up straightforward applications and free up officers to focus on complex cases.
Kochhar's tenure will be remembered as the period when Canada reversed course on high-volume immigration and began tightening the system across every category.
What Gallivan's Background Tells Us About IRCC's Direction
Deputy minister appointments are not random. The government picks someone whose skill set matches the department's priorities. Gallivan's profile points in a clear direction.
Expect Stronger Compliance and Verification
Gallivan spent his entire career building and running compliance systems. At CRA, he oversaw tax enforcement for five years. At CBSA, he managed the operational side of border enforcement. This is someone who knows how to build systems that catch fraud and enforce rules.
For immigration applicants, this likely means:
- Tighter document verification: Expect IRCC to invest more in detecting fraudulent applications, fake job offers, and misrepresented credentials.
- Employer compliance audits: The TFWP and LMIA system could see increased audits on employers who sponsor foreign workers.
- Faster removals: With his CBSA background, Gallivan understands the deportation and removal process. Enforcement of departure orders and inadmissibility findings may become more efficient.
Operational Efficiency Over Volume
Gallivan's CRA career was defined by managing large-scale operations. The CRA processes millions of tax returns annually. That experience in high-volume processing could translate to faster application processing at IRCC, but with a focus on accuracy over speed.
This aligns with the Carney government's stated priority: fewer immigrants, but better outcomes for those who come.
Alignment with Carney's Immigration Vision
Prime Minister Carney has already laid out a clear immigration agenda:
- Reduced PR targets: 395,000 in 2025, 380,000 in 2026, 365,000 in 2027
- International Mobility Program cuts: Nearly halved, from 285,750 permits in 2025 to 128,700 in 2026
- Express Entry priorities: Healthcare workers, skilled trades, scientists, researchers, and senior managers get priority
- New doctor pathway: A dedicated Express Entry stream for international doctors to address healthcare gaps
- H-1B talent recruitment: Active efforts to attract skilled workers from the United States
Gallivan's enforcement background makes him a natural fit to implement these priorities. Reducing immigration numbers while maintaining program integrity requires exactly the kind of compliance-first mindset he brings.
What This Means for Your Immigration Application
If you are applying to come to Canada or are already in the system, here is what to keep in mind:
For Express Entry candidates: The system continues to prioritize skilled workers in healthcare, trades, and STEM fields. CRS scores matter, but so does your occupation. Make sure your NOC code and work experience documentation are accurate and verifiable.
For work permit applicants: Employer compliance is likely to face more scrutiny. If your employer is sponsoring you through the TFWP or an LMIA, make sure the job offer is genuine and the employer can demonstrate a real labor market need.
For visitor visa applicants: Gallivan's CBSA experience means he understands admissibility from the enforcement side. Strong ties to your home country, clear travel purpose, and solid financial documentation remain critical.
For family sponsorship applicants: While enforcement tightening primarily affects economic streams, all applicants should ensure their documentation is complete and accurate. Processing times may improve as IRCC modernizes its systems.
For international students: With study permit caps already in place, competition for spots will remain intense. Choose DLI programs that align with labor market needs to strengthen future PR pathways.
The Bottom Line
Ted Gallivan's appointment signals that the Carney government is serious about transforming IRCC from a volume-focused department into one that prioritizes compliance, enforcement, and selectivity. His 20+ years in tax compliance and border enforcement give him the tools to implement the government's reduced immigration targets while cracking down on fraud and misuse.
For immigration applicants, the message is clear: accuracy and genuineness in your applications have never been more important. The era of high-volume, low-scrutiny immigration in Canada is over.
Need help with your immigration application? Our licensed RCICs at Go Far Global can help you put together a strong, compliant application. Contact us today for a consultation.
