A bill proposing significant changes to Canada’s immigration system is moving forward without any amendments.
If passed in its current form, the bill will grant extensive executive powers over Canada’s immigration system to the Governor in Council, acting on the advice of the prime minister and the cabinet.
The proposed powers include the authority to modify, revoke, or suspend immigration documents like work permits, study permits, and permanent resident visas, as well as the ability to halt, suspend, or terminate the processing of immigration applications, and to impose conditions on temporary residents.
According to the draft legislation, the Governor in Council can exercise these powers only in cases deemed to be in the public interest.
The bill also entails a revamp of Canada’s asylum system, introducing a provision to pause refugee claim proceedings for claimants outside Canada.
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 and respecting other related security measures,” was referred by the Senate for review by the Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs in early February.
During the Senate session on February 25, 2026, the committee submitted the bill to the Senate without any alterations.
The Senate is now preparing for the third reading of the bill at the upcoming session on Thursday, February 26.
If the bill successfully passes the third reading in the Senate without amendments, it will only require royal assent to become law.
During the third reading, senators can choose to approve the bill as-is, propose and vote on amendments, and/or reject the bill.
If any amendments are accepted by the Senate, the bill will be returned to the House of Commons for further consideration.
Despite the absence of amendments from the primary reviewing committee, the Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs, a range of amendments were recommended by the secondary reviewing committee, the Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology (SOCI).