The recent passage of a significant bill has brought about substantial changes to Canada’s immigration system, marking a pivotal moment in its evolution. The bill grants the Governor in Council the authority to modify, revoke, or suspend various immigration documents, including work permits, study permits, and permanent resident visas.
The legislation, known as Bill C-12, has cleared its final hurdle in the Senate, signaling a new era for immigration policies in Canada. Key amendments were made to the bill during its passage on March 12, 2026.
The bill encompasses three primary areas of reform:
- Empowering executive decision-making in immigration matters;
- Overhauling Canada’s asylum system; and
- Enhancing the sharing of personal information within the immigration department.
Empowering Executive Decision-Making
If enacted, the bill would authorize the Governor in Council to issue directives to:
- Stop processing, pause, or terminate immigration applications;
- Modify, suspend, or cancel immigration documents, such as work permits, study permits, visitor visas, and permanent resident visas; and
- Impose or adjust conditions on temporary residents.
These powers, if exercised, would be in the public interest, addressing issues related to administrative errors, fraud, public health, safety, or national security. Following the exercise of these powers, the immigration minister would be obligated to present justifications for the actions to Parliament and disclose details about those affected.
Asylum System Reforms
The bill introduces new grounds for disqualifying asylum claims referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB), including:
- Claimants who arrived in Canada after June 24, 2020, and filed their claims over a year after their initial entry (post-one-year claimants); and
- Claimants who crossed into Canada from the Canada-US border outside official entry points.
These changes aim to strengthen the integrity of Canada’s asylum system and ensure that claims are processed efficiently and fairly.