A significant immigration bill is currently undergoing its third reading in the Senate, with two crucial amendments being considered. One amendment aims to safeguard the privacy of permanent residents and Canadian citizens, while the other focuses on providing oversight for proposed limitations on asylum claims.

The Senate has approved an amendment proposed by Senator Paulette Senior to protect the privacy of Canadian citizens and permanent residents. This amendment exempts them from the increased information-sharing provisions in the bill, which would otherwise allow the immigration department to share personal information with other agencies.

Another amendment that has been adopted by the Senate requires the government to submit a report on asylum claims deemed ineligible due to being filed one year after the claimant’s entry into Canada.

At present, the Senate is in the process of debating the bill, with the possibility of additional amendments being proposed during the next Senate session scheduled for March 11, 2026.

If the bill successfully passes its third reading in the Senate following the amendments, it will be returned to the House of Commons. Subsequently, it would need to undergo three more readings before it can be enacted into law.

This bill represents the most significant immigration reforms in the past two decades.

Known as Bill C-12, the legislation 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” grants extensive executive powers to the government.

If the bill is enacted, the Governor in Council will have the authority to halt the acceptance of immigration applications for processing and to suspend or terminate the processing of such applications.

Moreover, the Governor in Council will be empowered to cancel, modify, or suspend immigration documents like permanent residence cards, work permits, and study permits, as well as impose conditions on temporary residents.

The bill restricts the exercise of these powers to situations deemed to be in the public interest, defined within the bill as matters related to “administrative errors, fraud, public health, public safety, or national security.”

C-12 also introduces several reforms to Canada’s asylum system, including a prohibition on asylum claims submitted more than one year after the claimant’s entry into Canada and a ban on claims from individuals who irregularly entered Canada from the United States.

Building on previous legislation passed under the Carney government, C-12 follows the trend of granting broad powers to the executive branch. For instance, Bill C-5 provided the Governor in Council with the authority to expedite approvals for select “national interest projects,” such as pipelines, mines, power plants, and railways.

This article provides breaking news updates. CIC News will continue to monitor and report on developments as they unfold.