Canada is considering a new immigration law called Bill C-12, “Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act.” This law could give the governor general more powers to manage immigration applications and documents, and it may affect anyone planning to come to Canada temporarily or permanently.
What the Bill Could Do
If this bill becomes law, it would allow the governor general (with advice from the Cabinet) to:
- Stop accepting new immigration applications for processing.
- Pause or cancel applications that are already being processed.
This could affect things like:
- Permanent resident visas
- Work permits
- Study permits
- Temporary resident visas
- Electronic travel authorizations
- Permanent resident cards
The bill would also let the government add new rules or change conditions for temporary residents, such as workers, students, or visitors. These rules could be used to make sure people follow the law. However, the bill does not allow the government to grant permanent residency or automatically extend work or study permits.
How It Could Affect Newcomers
While the powers in this bill sound strong, there are important safeguards to protect newcomers:
- The governor general can only use these powers if it is in the “public interest.”
- “Public interest” situations include administrative errors, fraud, public health, safety, or national security.
- If the powers are used, the immigration minister must report to Parliament. The report will explain why the powers were used, how many applications or documents were affected, and information about the people affected.
This means that if there are mistakes or fraud in applications, people with correct and legitimate applications could actually benefit.
The bill also proposes changes to Canada’s refugee and asylum system, including the ability for officials to consider some claims as abandoned or withdrawn under certain circumstances.
Will Bill C-12 Become Law?
The bill has already passed the House of Commons and had its first reading in the Senate. It will become law if it passes the Senate and receives royal approval.
- The Senate will start considering the bill again in February 2026.
- It is very likely to become law, as it is rare for bills that pass the House of Commons to be rejected in the Senate.
Q: Will this bill stop me from applying to come to Canada?
A: The bill allows the government to temporarily stop accepting applications, but only if it is needed for the public interest. Most people will not be affected.
Q: Can my work or study permit be canceled because of this bill?
A: The government can change conditions on temporary permits, but it cannot automatically extend or grant new permits without following the normal process.
Q: What does “public interest” mean?
A: It includes situations like fraud, safety concerns, health risks, or national security issues.
Q: Does this affect permanent residency?
A: No, the bill does not give the government new powers to grant permanent residence. It mainly focuses on managing applications and temporary permits.
Q: How will Canada make sure the powers are not misused?
A: The immigration minister must report to Parliament whenever these powers are used, including details about affected applications and people.
Bill C-12 is designed to make Canada’s immigration system more flexible and secure, but it also comes with safeguards to protect newcomers who follow the rules.
