Canada has recently introduced a new immigration law granting the government extensive powers to manage immigration documents and applications on a large scale.
Following the approval of Bill C-12, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has outlined the implementation of these powers and the accompanying safeguards.
Here is an overview of the new tools, how they will be utilized by the government, and how individuals can determine if they are affected.
Overview of Government’s Authority
Under Bill C-12, the Governor in Council can issue orders affecting large groups of immigration documents and applications simultaneously. These orders include the ability to:
- Cancel, suspend, or modify immigration documents like work permits, study permits, temporary resident visas, and permanent resident visas;
- Pause or terminate the processing of immigration applications; and
- Suspend the acceptance of new applications entirely.
These powers are not restricted to individual cases but can be applied to entire document or application categories to address public interest issues, such as fraud, public health risks, administrative errors, or national security concerns.
Limitations of the Powers
The new authorities have constraints. They cannot be used to grant, alter, or revoke an individual’s immigration status, such as permanent or temporary resident status.
In essence, while the government can cancel documents like work permits, these specific measures cannot be employed to revoke an individual’s permanent or temporary resident status.