This revolting bill constitutes a serious infringement on the rights of refugees and migrants in Canada and has been criticized by the United Nations Human Rights Committee for undermining essential procedural safeguards for refugees.
Bill C-12 commits current and future governments to a dangerous path by limiting the ability to claim asylum in Canada, enabling the mass cancellation of immigration documents and applications, and facilitating the sharing of personal information both domestically and internationally. Bill C-12 will expose thousands of people to risks of persecution, violence, and precariousness.
Civil society organizations have consistently demanded the withdrawal of this dangerous law, particularly when over 300 organizations urged the government to withdraw Bill C-2, its predecessor, in June 2025. However, these concerns were ignored, and these groups were largely excluded from the legislative process in the House of Commons.
After numerous experts and individuals with lived experience of these issues appeared before the Senate to highlight the harmful effects of Bill C-12, the Senate Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology recommended the removal of provisions amending immigration and refugee protection laws due to concerns about human rights, privacy, and the lack of fair procedure. However, these recommendations were ignored, and no significant changes were made, as the government rushed the adoption of this deplorable legislation.
This government is replicating anti-migrant policies and sentiment in Canada similar to those in the United States. We are concerned about this dangerous shift toward increased discretionary power and the erosion of the rights of refugees and migrants resulting from future legislative and policy reforms, including the upcoming changes to the Interim Federal Health Program set to take effect on May 1.
As a coalition, we will continue to fight against these attacks on the rights of refugees and migrants in Canada, as they are being scapegoated for crises caused by both levels of government.
Signatories:
- Action Réfugiés Montréal
- Amnesty International Canada, English Section
- Amnistie internationale Canada francophone
- Ansari Immigration Law
- Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers
- Canadian Muslim Lawyers Association
- Canadian Muslim Public Affairs Council (CMPAC)
- Clinique pour la justice migrante – Migrant justice clinic
- Canadian Council for Refugees
- Council of Canadians – Ottawa Chapter
- Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF)
- International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group
- Jafari Law
- Journey Home Community
- Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA)
- Le centre de réfugiés
- Leadnow
- Matthew House Refugee Services, Toronto
- Doctors of the World Canada
- Migrant Rights Network
- Rainbow Refugee
- Refugee Lawyer’s Association
- Community Legal Services of Ottawa
- Solutions Justes – MCM
- Canadian Union of Public Employees
- Table de concertation des organismes au service des personnes réfugiées et immigrantes (TCRI)
- Uganda Community Centre Canada (UCCC)