Understanding Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act, Bill C-12
The Government of Canada introduced legislation to help disrupt increasingly complex criminal groups, strengthen border security, and improve our immigration system. The Strengthening Canada's Immigration System and Borders Act would make legislative changes while protecting privacy and rights under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
On this page:
- About Bill C-12
- Border security
- Fighting international organized crime
- Disrupting illicit financing
- Resources
About Strengthening Canada's Immigration System and Borders Act, Bill C-12
Bill C-12 is designed to keep people in Canada safe. It would make sure law enforcement has the right tools to:
- keep our borders secure
- fight transnational organized crime
- stop the flow of illegal fentanyl
- crack down on money laundering
- protect Canada while upholding Canada's privacy and Charter rights
The bill would strengthen our security by proposing changes to laws that support:
- border security and immigration
- combating transnational organized crime
- disrupting illicit financing
Border security and immigration
Many of our laws related to managing our borders and immigration systems need to be updated to continue to address increasing and more complex security challenges.
Bill C-12 would give border, immigration and law enforcement agencies modernized powers to be more effective now and in the future.
Export inspections
Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Officers have the power to inspect goods for export, but they may not be able to access the goods at certain locations.
The bill would:
- give the CBSA access to exported goods located in warehouses and transportations hubs
Maritime security
Canada's coasts face evolving security risks. To respond effectively, departments and agencies must work together to strengthen maritime security.
The bill would:
- allow the Canadian Coast Guard to conduct security patrols. They would be able to collect, analyze and disseminate information and intelligence for security purposes
Expanded information sharing
Border security requires a coordinated effort across all of government because information from various federal institutions may be required to thoroughly assess a given situation.
Federal departments and agencies need to work together to share information to understand and respond to demands, and to keep people safe.
The bill would:
- enhance the ability of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to share information on registered sex offenders with domestic and international partners, including those in the United States
- improve how Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) shares client information between its own programs, and create clear and direct legal authorities to allow IRCC to share information (identity, status, immigration documentation) with Canadian federal, provincial and territorial partners in a more secure, consistent and transparent way.
- Written information-sharing agreements or arrangements with domestic partners would include strong safeguards to protect people's privacy and Charter rights. Each document would specify what information can be shared, how it can be used and which limits apply.
- The new provisions in Bill C-12 apply exclusively to sharing immigration information with domestic partners and within IRCC. IRCC would not be sharing this information with other countries under these new provisions.
- The legislation would prohibit provincial and territorial governments from sharing IRCC's information with any foreign entity, unless IRCC provides written consent and the disclosure complies with Canada's international obligations regarding mistreatment by foreign entities.
Any use or disclosure of personal information under these new authorities would follow existing privacy laws, policies and best practices.
Improved asylum claim processing
Canada's asylum system exists to protect people who are fleeing persecution, or risks to their life or safety in their home country. Our system has been strained by the challenging increases in asylum claims in recent years. It's caused lengthy processing times and backlogs, as well as prolonged uncertainty for claimants.
The Strengthening Canada's Immigration System and Borders Act would improve how we receive, process and decide on asylum claims to make the system faster and easier to navigate.
The bill would:
- simplify the online application process to ensure every claim is submitted consistently and securely, whether someone claims asylum at a port of entry or at an inland IRCC office
- allow only "scheduling-ready" files —that is, complete and verified applications—to be referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) to speed up decisions
- ensure claims are decided by the IRB only while the claimant is physically present in Canada
- remove abandoned cases from the system so that decision makers can focus resources on people actively seeking protection
- hasten voluntary departures by making removal orders effective the same day a claim is withdrawn
- help vulnerable people, such as minors or those who might not fully understand the process, by assigning representatives to provide support during immigration or border enforcement proceedings
These measures would help deliver faster, fairer and final decisions, ensuring that those who genuinely need protection receive it in a timely fashion.
New ineligibility rules for asylum claimants
Our asylum system is meant to protect people who can prove that they have a well-founded fear of persecution or face a risk of serious harm, such as torture or other cruel and unusual treatment or punishment. This bill reinforces a simple principle: Our asylum system is not a shortcut to regular immigration pathways.
Claims are first assessed to determine their eligibility for referral to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB). If the claim is eligible, the IRB assesses it based on the evidence and arguments presented, and in line with Canadian law.
These new ineligibility rules would protect the asylum system against sudden increases in claims. This protection would help alleviate current pressures on the system and deter people from using the asylum system to bypass regular immigration rules (including the Safe Third Country Agreement) or to extend their temporary stay in Canada
- Asylum claims made more than one year after the claimant first arrived in Canada, after June 24, 2020, would not be referred to the IRB. This rule would apply to anyone, including students and temporary residents, regardless of whether they left the country and returned.
- Asylum claims made by people who enter Canada along the US land border between ports of entry and who make their claim after 14 days would also not be referred to the IRB.
People affected by the proposed ineligibility provisions would still be able to apply for a pre-removal risk assessment (PRRA). A PRRA takes into account each claimant's situation and can also result in refugee protection being granted. It prevents people from being returned to a country where they face risks like persecution, torture or other harm.
Authorities to strengthen control over immigration documents and applications
The Government of Canada must be able to respond to crises and unexpected events that could undermine the integrity of Canada's immigration system and the safety of Canadians.
To improve our ability to respond, the bill would expand the Government of Canada's ability to cancel, suspend or change immigration documents, and to suspend, cancel or stop accepting new applications. These powers would be used only in exceptional circumstances and when they are determined to be in the public interest.
- The process would have safeguards to make sure decisions are transparent, accountable and in the public interest. Decisions to use these authorities would be made only by the Governor in Council, ensuring these decisions are never made by a single minister. Once the order-in-council (OIC) is signed, it would be published, allowing for transparency and accountability. A new OIC would be sought each time the government wishes to use these authorities.
- These authorities would be used only for immigration documents and applications for documents—such as visas, electronic travel authorizations, and work and study permits—not asylum claims.
- If an order were made to pause, cancel or change immigration documents, it would not immediately take away someone's status as a permanent or temporary resident in Canada. No changes are being made to existing processes and protections relating to the loss of status for permanent and temporary residents and the removal of foreign nationals from Canada.
Fighting international organized crime
The greatest threats to our border continue to be international organized crime networks. They try to take advantage of areas along the border to smuggle people or illegal goods.
Law and border enforcement must keep pace with these modern criminal threats and prepare for future challenges.
The bill would modernize legal authorities for border and law enforcement agencies so they can respond to current and emerging challenges more effectively.
Disrupt illegal drug production
While Canada strictly controls synthetic drugs and the precursor chemicals used to produce them, the illegal drug market is constantly evolving in an attempt to evade these controls.
The bill would:
- amend the accelerated scheduling pathway that allows precursor chemicals that can be used to produce illicit drugs to be rapidly controlled by the Minister of Health
- This would allow law and border enforcement agencies to take swift action to prevent their illegal importation and use, and would ensure strict federal oversight over any legitimate use of these chemicals
Disrupting illicit financing
Financial crimes are not victimless. Money laundering supports and perpetuates crimes such as human trafficking, fentanyl trafficking, and other illicit drug trafficking, as well as fraud, theft, and other economic crimes. Terrorist financing wreaks havoc on communities at home and around the world.
To disrupt illicit finance and combat transnational organized crime, new tools are needed to keep pace with increasingly sophisticated criminal threats and techniques.
Anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing: Supervision, compliance, and enforcement
Businesses with anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing (AML/ATF) obligations are on the front lines of the fight against financial crimes. These obligations, such as reporting suspicious transactions, are designed to detect and deter financial crimes.
The bill would:
- strengthen AML/ATF compliance, supervision, and enforcement, including through a 40 times increase in administrative money penalties, so that non-compliance is not treated as the cost of doing business.
Supervisory collaboration
Coordination among federal agencies with financial sector responsibilities supports high standards of regulatory compliance by federally regulated financial institutions.
The bill would:
- enable FINTRAC to exchange supervisory information on federally regulated financial institutions with other members of the Financial Institutions Supervisory Committee (FISC)
- add the Director of FINTRAC to FISC.
Resources
Government Bills
Parliament of Canada
News
- Government of Canada introduces new streamlined legislation to strengthen border security and keep Canadians safe - Canada.ca (Public Safety Canada, October 3, 2025)
- Government of Canada strengthens border security - Canada.ca (Public Safety Canada, June 3, 2025)
- The Strong Borders Act - Government of Canada strengthens border security - Canada.ca (Public Safety Canada, June 3, 2025)
- Additional information about the Strong Borders Act - Canada.ca (Immigration and Citizenship, June 17, 2025)
- Bill C-2: An Act respecting certain measures relating to the security of the border between Canada and the United States and respecting other related security measures (Justice Canada, June 19, 2025)