The Senate makes changes to a major immigration bill, i.e., a major immigration bill currently under its third reading in the Senate has received two important amendments. These changes focus on protecting the privacy of Canadian citizens and permanent residents, and ensuring oversight related to new asylum rules.
The Senate approved an amendment proposed by Senator Paulette Senior. This amendment aims to protect the personal information of Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Under the amendment, these individuals will be exempt from expanded information-sharing rules in the bill.
Originally, the bill would allow the immigration department to share certain personal information with other government agencies. The amendment ensures that these new information-sharing powers will not apply to citizens or permanent residents.
Another amendment approved by the Senate introduces an additional reporting requirement. Under this change, the government must submit a report on asylum claims that are rejected because they were submitted more than one year after the claimant entered Canada.
At the time of writing, the Senate is still discussing the bill. Senators may introduce additional amendments during the next Senate session, which is scheduled for March 11, 2026.
If the Senate passes the bill during the third reading, the legislative process will continue. Because amendments have been made, the bill will be sent back to the House of Commons. There, it must pass three more readings before it can officially become law.
The legislation is considered one of the most significant immigration reforms introduced in Canada in the past two decades.
Overview Of Bill C-12 And Its Proposed Powers
The bill, officially titled Bill C-12, is called:
“An Act respecting certain measures relating to the security of Canada’s borders and the integrity of the Canadian immigration system and respecting other related security measures.”
The legislation proposes to give the Canadian government broad executive powers over immigration processes.
If the bill becomes law, the Governor in Council would gain the authority to stop accepting certain immigration applications for processing. The government would also have the power to pause or terminate the processing of applications that are already in the system.
In addition, the government could cancel, change, or suspend immigration documents. These documents may include permanent residence cards, work permits, and study permits.
The bill would also allow the government to place specific conditions on temporary residents when necessary.
However, these powers would not be unlimited. The bill states that such actions can only be taken when they are considered to be in the public interest.
According to the legislation, the public interest may include situations related to administrative errors, fraud, public health, public safety, or national security concerns.
Changes Proposed For Canada’s Asylum System
Bill C-12 also includes several reforms to Canada’s asylum system.
One major change would prevent asylum claims from being accepted if they are submitted more than one year after the individual entered Canada.
Another rule in the bill would block asylum claims from individuals who entered Canada irregularly from the United States.
These proposed measures aim to strengthen border management and address concerns related to asylum processing.
Part Of A Broader Legislative Trend
Bill C-12 follows other legislation introduced under the Carney government that expands executive powers in certain areas.
For example, Bill C-5 previously granted the Governor in Council the authority to fast-track approval for selected “national interest projects.”
These projects may include large infrastructure developments such as pipelines, mining projects, power plants, and railway systems.
Together, these laws show a broader effort by the government to streamline decision-making in areas considered important for national security, economic development, and public administration.
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