Bill C-12: What It Is, Where It Stands, and What It Could Mean for Migrants : OLIP

By Mo Kasrawi

As Canada continues to adjust its immigration policies, Bill C-12 has emerged as a key piece of proposed legislation. Framed by the federal government as a way to strengthen border security and improve the integrity of the immigration system, the bill has also raised important questions among migrant serving service providers, advocates, and international organizations. This article provides a brief overview of what Bill C-12 proposes, where it stands in the legislative process, and what it could mean in practice for migrants and the organizations that support them.

1. What is Bill C-12?

Bill C-12, titled “An Act respecting certain measures relating to the security of Canada’s borders and the integrity of the Canadian immigration system”, is a federal government bill introduced in October 2025.

The legislation proposes broad reforms to Canada’s immigration and border framework, combining measures related to:

border security and enforcement
immigration and asylum processing
information sharing between government agencies
prevention of fraud and transnational crime

The federal government presents Bill C-12 as a way to modernize Canada’s immigration system, strengthen border management, and respond to increasing pressures on asylum processing and public safety.

More specifically, according to the federal government, the bill aims to:

expand powers for border and law enforcement agencies
introduce new rules affecting asylum eligibility and processing
strengthen oversight of immigration documents and applications
increase information sharing across institutions to detect fraud and security risks

Overall, Bill C-12 represents a reform of how Canada manages migration, asylum claims, and border security, and has become a central element of the government’s current immigration policy agenda.

Sources: Parliament of Canada; Government of Canada; IRCC; iPolitics; OpenParliament

2. How will migrants be affected?

If adopted, Bill C-12 could bring significant changes to how migrants experience Canada’s immigration and asylum system, particularly for those in vulnerable or precarious situations.

One of the most consequential impacts relates to access to asylum. The bill proposes new rules that could make certain individuals ineligible to make a refugee claim, depending on how and when they entered Canada. More specifically, claims would only be possible within a period of one year from the first entry date to Canada. Thus, the Bill places many people at risk of being found ineligible to make a claim. This is particularly concerning for vulnerable populations. Organizations such as the Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic and Women’s Shelters Canada warned that the restrictions put survivors of gender-based violence at risk by imposing rigid time limits on safety claims. Organizations have shared concerns as well over the possibility for LGBTQ+ individuals, who may have lived in Canada for over one year before feeling safe enough to come out, to pursue a refugee claim. Other examples of reasons for concern were given of situations where safety evolves in the living context of individuals, between the first visit in their lives they ever did to Canada, and the date when they are presenting an asylum application in Canada, that can be years later.

On a more systemic level, the government seems to be concerned that a lot of temporary residents currently in Canada, or profiles of migrants who would usually seek temporary residency entry pathways, would be tempted to apply for asylum after the government reduces its target of the numbers of temporary migrant entry permits. The answer of IRCC officials in the Senate committees to concerns of procedural fairness raised by organizations and some senators has consistently focused on the possibility of asylum claimants to raise a claim for Pre-Removal Risk Assessment or to proceed with a Judicial Review at the Federal Court. The concern here is that in order to reduce the backlog and the waiting times at the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, we increase the number of applicants to the Federal Court, thus shifting the applicants from an oral procedure with human contact to administrative paper based procedure, and shifitng the backlog and the long processing times from one silo to another.

The bill also introduces expanded information-sharing powers between government agencies, which could affect how personal data is used across systems and influence migrants’ trust in institutions.

In addition, broader discretionary powers for the immigration minister could increase the risk of political influence over processes that are intended to be grounded in human rights. Critics have focused in particular on the bill’s wording, which allows the Minister to act “if the Minister is of the opinion that it is in the public interest.”

This phrasing has raised several concerns among senators and experts.

First, it is highly discretionary. The threshold is the Minister’s opinion, rather than an objective or clearly defined test. There is no precise definition of what constitutes the “public interest,” meaning that decisions could vary depending on the government or context.

Second, it enables broad and far-reaching actions. Under this provision, the Minister could suspend or cancel immigration applications, pause processing, or affect entire categories of applicants rather than individual cases.

Third, it lacks built-in safeguards. Critics note that the provision does not require detailed justification, does not automatically trigger parliamentary oversight, and does not guarantee affected individuals a right to be heard beforehand.

Finally, it shifts decision-making power away from independent bodies. Responsibilities may move from institutions such as the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada toward executive discretion within Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

For many, this could mean reduced access to protection pathways, increased uncertainty, and heightened vulnerability within the system.

Sources: Senate of Canada; Amnesty International Canada; Canadian Council for Refugees

3. Where is Bill C-12 in the legislative process?

Bill C-12 is currently advancing through the federal legislative process and has already passed several key stages in the House of Commons.

After its introduction and initial debate in October 2025, the bill was referred to a parliamentary committee for detailed study. At this stage, Members of Parliament reviewed the bill clause by clause, heard from expert witnesses, and proposed amendments.

Following committee review, the bill returned to the House of Commons for further debate and voting. Once adopted, it was sent to the Senate, where it underwent a similar process of study and amendment.

A bill only becomes law once both chambers adopt it in identical form and it receives Royal Assent.

As of March 12, 2026, Bill C-12 is back before the House of Commons for consideration of amendments made by the Senate. It therefore remains under parliamentary consideration, and its final form is still subject to change.

Sources: Parliament of Canada – LEGISinfo; OpenParliament

4. What are UN bodies and other organizations criticizing in this bill?

Several international and Canadian organizations have raised concerns about the potential impacts of Bill C-12, particularly in relation to access to asylum, due process, privacy, and expanded decision-making powers.

Organizations such as Amnesty International Canada and the Canadian Council for Refugees warn that proposed changes could make some individuals ineligible to claim refugee protection, potentially putting them at risk.

Concerns have also been raised about procedural fairness, particularly where access to a full hearing may be limited.

On privacy, expanded information-sharing provisions could lead to broader use of personal data across government systems.

Finally, critics highlight the expansion of discretionary powers, which could affect transparency and predictability in the immigration system.

Overall, many organizations argue that the bill risks weakening protections for migrants and refugees and are calling for amendments.

Sources: Amnesty International Canada; Canadian Council for Refugees- UN Human Rights Committee statements; Barbara Schlifer Commemorative Clinic

What does this means for service providers in Ottawa

For service providers in Ottawa, Bill C-12 could have direct implications on how clients access services and navigate the immigration system.

Organizations may see an increase in individuals who are unable to access the refugee determination system, resulting in greater vulnerability and more complex support needs.

Changes to processes and information sharing may also require providers to adapt their guidance, strengthen referral pathways, and spend more time supporting clients through uncertainty.

These developments highlight the importance of continued collaboration across Ottawa’s settlement sector, in line with the Ottawa Immigration Strategy, to ensure coordinated and effective responses.

Key Takeaway

Bill C-12 could significantly reshape Canada’s immigration and asylum system. While the government presents it as a step toward efficiency and security, many organizations warn of the one-year asylum bar, the reduced protection access and the mass status cancellation. Thus, it is important for our network to follow its progress in Parliament.