Canada’s Senate has introduced an amendment to Bill C-12, a major immigration reform bill currently being debated.
The amendment would require the government to report on asylum claims filed more than one year after a person enters Canada.
The Senate is still debating the bill, and more amendments may still be proposed. If the bill passes with changes, it will return to the House of Commons for approval before it can become law.
Bill C-12 proposes some of the largest immigration reforms in about 20 years. If passed, it would give the federal government broader powers to manage the immigration system.
For example, the government could pause accepting certain immigration applications, stop processing some applications, or cancel or change immigration documents such as permanent residence cards, work permits, and study permits.
The bill would also introduce new restrictions on asylum claims, including making claims ineligible if they are submitted more than one year after entering Canada, and limiting claims from people who irregularly entered Canada from the United States.
According to the bill, these powers could only be used in situations considered to be in the public interest, such as cases involving fraud, public health, public safety, national security, or administrative errors.
