# Mark Carney to Feature in Canadian Citizenship Ceremony Videos New citizens will view a congratulatory video from Prime Minister Mark Carney during ceremonies. - **Source:** [Toronto Sun](https://torontosun.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-05 - **Topic:** [politics](https://brifing.si/c/politics) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/1e5043eb-eb9a-45cc-9fff-4c2a59e713e0 ## New Citizenship Ceremony Protocol Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada plans to integrate a recorded video message from Prime Minister Mark Carney into citizenship ceremonies. According to internal memos obtained by Blacklock’s Reporter, the bilingual address will be played for new citizens. This addition marks a shift in the standard proceedings for these official government events. ## Integration During Official Proceedings The recorded message is scheduled to be broadcast midway through both virtual and in-person citizenship ceremonies. Anahita Beladi, a spokesperson for the immigration department, confirmed that presiding officials will pause the event immediately after the Oath of Citizenship is administered to play the video. The specific content of the remarks remains currently undisclosed. ## Non-Partisan Ceremony Guidelines Government guidelines explicitly state that citizenship ceremonies are intended to remain non-partisan events. While elected officials like senators, mayors, and members of parliament are permitted to attend as special guests, they are strictly prohibited from hosting, funding, or presiding over these ceremonies. The Immigration minister is the only exception to these rules. ## Scope of National Ceremonies Canada conducts over 3,000 citizenship ceremonies annually across the country to welcome new residents. These events serve as the final step for individuals obtaining Canadian citizenship. The introduction of a pre-recorded message from the Prime Minister will now become a standard component of these thousands of gatherings held throughout the calendar year. ## Official Response and Transparency The Prime Minister’s Office did not provide a response to inquiries regarding the video project. Information about the initiative surfaced through access-to-information records, which highlighted the department's internal planning. The French-language memo indicated that the department expects to receive the final version of the congratulatory recording in the near future. ## Role of Elected Officials Current government policy allows elected officials to participate in ceremonies, provided they do not act in a personal or political capacity. The distinction between attending as a guest and influencing the ceremony structure is a core element of the existing framework. This policy aims to preserve the neutral nature of the citizenship process. ## Context of Administrative Procedures The implementation of this video follows standard administrative procedures within the immigration department. By utilizing recorded media, the government can ensure a consistent message is delivered to all new citizens regardless of their location. This approach contrasts with traditional in-person appearances by local representatives, which vary significantly based on regional scheduling availability. ## Implications for Future Ceremonies The inclusion of a Prime Ministerial video highlights ongoing discussions regarding the role of political figures in state-sponsored events. As the department prepares to roll out this initiative, observers are monitoring how these ceremonies balance official government messaging with the requirement for non-partisan conduct. The impact on ceremony duration remains to be seen. ## Sources covering this story - https://torontosun.com/news/national/mark-carney-appear-video-played-canadian-citizenship-ceremonies — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._