Canada’s New Bill C-12 Is Moving Fast To Become Law And Tighten Immigration

Last Updated On 12 February 2026, 12:59 PM EST (Toronto Time)

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Bill C-12, the “Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act,” is racing through the Senate at unprecedented speed and is about to become law soon.

On February 9, 2026, Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab and Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree testified before the Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence, and Veterans Affairs.

Today, the Privacy Commissioner of Canada will testify, and the committee will begin considering its draft report around 10:30 am E.T. (Toronto time).

If you have a pending work permit or study permit or are considering filing an asylum claim, this legislation could directly affect your immigration journey.

The bill addresses unprecedented asylum backlogs (nearly 300,000 pending cases), border security challenges, and the fentanyl crisis—but for immigration applicants, the real question is: How will this affect my application?

Here are the five most critical ways Bill C-12 will impact the Canadian immigration system once it becomes law.

Where Bill C-12 Stands Today

Stage	Date	Status
House of Commons First Reading	October 8, 2025	Completed
House of Commons Second Reading	October 23, 2025	Completed
House of Commons Consideration in Committee	November 28, 2025	Completed
House of Commons Report stage and Third reading	December 11, 2025	Completed
Senate First Reading	December 11, 2025	Completed
Senate Second Reading	February 5, 2026	Completed
Committee Review	Feb 9–12, 2026	In Progress
Report Stage	Expected Soon	Not Yet Reached
Senate Third Reading	Expected Soon	Not Yet Reached
Royal Assent (When it actually becomes law)	Expected Late Feb	Not Yet Reached

Committee Hearing Schedule February 2026

Date	Key Witnesses	Focus	Status
Feb 9 (Mon)	Immigration Minister Diab, Public Safety Minister Anandasangaree, IRCC Deputy Minister Kochhar, CBSA President O’Gorman, RCMP Deputy Commissioner Larkin	Ministerial Testimony	Done
Feb 11 (Today)	Fentanyl Commissioner Kevin Brosseau, Canadian Drug Policy Coalition, Grand Chief Cody Diabo (Assembly of First Nations)	Drug Policy & Indigenous	Done
Feb 12 (Wed)	Privacy Commissioner Philippe Dufresne, FINTRAC, Prof. Adam Lajeunesse + Draft Report Consideration	Privacy & Report	Scheduled for today

The committee is moving at remarkable speed. With draft report consideration scheduled for today, Bill C-12 could reach third reading within days and receive Royal Assent by late February 2026.

1. Mass Cancellation Of Immigration Documents

The most controversial provision in Bill C-12 grants the Governor-in-Council (federal cabinet) unprecedented authority to mass-cancel, suspend, or modify immigration documents, including work permits, study permits, and visitor visas.

What This Means For Applicants:

Your work permit, study permit, or visa could be cancelled en masse if the government determines it’s in the “public interest.”
This power can be used in cases of organized fraud (e.g., fraudulent acceptance letters from ghost consultants), cyberattacks, public health emergencies, or national security threats
The government can also stop accepting new applications for certain document types entirely
Each mass action must be published in the Canada Gazette, and the Minister must table a report in Parliament within 7 sitting days

Important Safeguard: This power cannot be used unilaterally by the Immigration Minister. It requires a Governor-in-Council order (full cabinet approval).

Additionally, the mass cancellation of documents does not automatically result in loss of status for people already in Canada. Existing removal processes and protections remain unchanged.

Real-World Example: If hundreds of international students are discovered to have fraudulent acceptance letters issued by a common ghost consultant, the government could invalidate all those documents collectively rather than processing 500 individual cases.

This protects the integrity of the system but may affect innocent applicants caught in fraud schemes.

2. New Asylum Ineligibility Rules

Bill C-12 introduces two significant new grounds for asylum claim ineligibility that will dramatically change who can access Canada’s refugee determination system.

New Ineligibility Ground #1: One-Year Rule

Asylum claims made more than one year after an individual’s first entry into Canada (after June 24, 2020) will be ineligible for referral to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB).

If you entered Canada as a visitor, student, or worker and later decide to claim asylum, you must do so within 12 months of your first entry
Claims filed after one year will not go to the IRB for a full hearing
Instead, you would only be eligible for a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) before deportation

New Ineligibility Ground #2: 14-Day Rule For Irregular Border Crossers

Individuals who enter Canada irregularly from the United States (between official ports of entry) and make an asylum claim more than 14 days after entry will be ineligible for IRB referral.

If you crossed the border irregularly and don’t claim asylum within 14 days, you will be channelled toward removal with only a PRRA available
This does not affect the Safe Third Country Agreement, which remains in effect
Unaccompanied minors are exempted from these ineligibility rules

Why This Matters: Canada’s asylum backlog reached approximately 299,452 cases as of November 2025, with average wait times of 16 months. Claims rose from 92,000 in 2022 to 173,000 in 2024.

These measures aim to discourage people from using the asylum system to extend temporary stays and access work permits.

Bill C-12 significantly expands how Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) can share your personal information across government programs and with provincial/territorial partners.

Privacy Commissioner Philippe Dufresne is scheduled to testify on these provisions today (February 12).

What Changes:

IRCC can now share information between its own programs (e.g., using data from your PR application when processing a citizenship application)
Identity, status, and document information can be shared with provincial, territorial, and federal partners
Discrepancies between applications (red flags for fraud) can be identified across programs
You may no longer need to resubmit documents already provided to another IRCC program

Privacy Protections:

Written information-sharing agreements are required with all partners
Provincial/territorial partners cannot share your information with foreign entities without IRCC’s written consent
Any foreign sharing must comply with the Avoiding Complicity in Mistreatment by Foreign Entities Act

Applicant Impact: On the positive side, this could reduce the need to submit the same documents multiple times.

On the negative side, any inconsistencies or errors across your applications will be more easily detected.

Ensure all information you provide to any IRCC program is accurate and consistent.

4. Streamlined Asylum Processing Changes

Beyond the new ineligibility rules, Bill C-12 introduces several procedural changes to make asylum processing faster and more efficient.

Key Procedural Changes:

Unified application process: The process will be the same whether you claim asylum at a port of entry or at an inland IRCC office
Schedule-ready referrals only: Only complete, schedule-ready files will be referred to the IRB, speeding up decisions
Physical presence requirement: Claims will only be decided when the claimant is physically present in Canada
Inactive case removal: Inactive cases can be removed from the system
Faster voluntary departures: Removal orders become effective the same day a claim is withdrawn
Designated representatives: Vulnerable persons (minors, those who don’t understand the process) will be assigned designated representatives to support them

What This Means: If you’re planning to file an asylum claim, prepare a complete application with all supporting documents before submitting.

Incomplete files may face additional delays. However, vulnerable claimants will receive better support through assigned representatives.

5. Enhanced Border Security And Enforcement

Bill C-12’s border security measures primarily target organized crime, auto theft, and fentanyl trafficking but will also affect how Canada processes people and goods at the border.

CBSA President Erin O’Gorman and RCMP Senior Deputy Commissioner Bryan Larkin testified on these provisions yesterday.

Border Changes:

CBSA gains expanded authority to examine goods for export at transportation hubs, rail yards, and warehouses
Port and entry facility operators must provide, equip, and maintain facilities for CBSA enforcement
Canadian Coast Guard receives a new security mandate and will report to the Minister of Defence
1,000 new RCMP personnel and 1,000 new CBSA officers planned for border security
24/7 border surveillance to be implemented

Traveller Impact: While most border security measures target goods and organized crime, the increased enforcement presence may result in more thorough screening at ports of entry.

Ensure you have all required documentation when crossing the border.

What You Should Do Now

Review your application status: Log into your IRCC account and verify that all information is accurate and consistent across any applications you’ve submitted.
Check your entry date: If you’re considering an asylum claim, note that the one-year rule will apply after the bill becomes law. Act promptly if you have protection concerns.
Ensure document authenticity: If you used an immigration consultant or agent, verify all documents (especially acceptance letters and job offers) are legitimate.
Prepare complete applications: With the new schedule-ready referral requirement, incomplete applications will face delays. Gather all supporting documents before submitting.
Monitor legislative progress: Bill C-12 is moving quickly—draft report consideration is today. The final version could pass within days.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When will Bill C-12 become law?

Committee hearings are wrapping up this week, with draft report consideration scheduled for today (February 12). Given this rapid pace, Bill C-12 could pass third reading and receive Royal Assent as early March 2026.

Will my current work permit or study permit be automatically cancelled?

No, the bill does not automatically cancel any immigration documents. The mass cancellation powers can only be used through a specific Governor-in-Council order for defined circumstances (fraud, public health emergency, national security, etc.). If you obtained your permit legitimately and there are no issues with your documentation, your permit remains valid.

What happens if I miss the one-year deadline for asylum claims?

If you file an asylum claim more than one year after first entering Canada (after June 24, 2020), your claim will not be referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board for a full hearing.
Instead, you would be eligible for a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) before any removal. A positive PRRA can still result in protected person status. The PRRA examines the same risk factors as the IRB.

Does this bill affect Express Entry or Provincial Nominee Programs?

Bill C-12 does not directly change Express Entry or PNP eligibility criteria, processing, or selection mechanisms. However, the expanded information-sharing provisions mean that IRCC can more easily cross-reference your data across different immigration programs. Ensure all information in your Express Entry profile matches documentation in any other IRCC applications.

Who testified at the committee hearings?

Yesterday’s hearing (February 9) featured Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab, Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, IRCC Deputy Minister Harpreet S. Kochhar, CBSA President Erin O’Gorman, and RCMP Senior Deputy Commissioner Bryan Larkin. Today’s hearing includes Fentanyl Commissioner Kevin Brosseau and representatives from the Assembly of First Nations. Today, Privacy Commissioner Philippe Dufresne will testify on information-sharing concerns.

What is the impact of Bill C-12 on refugee claimants submitting on January 20?

Bill C-12, aimed at strengthening Canada's immigration system, is expected to significantly affect refugee claimants who submit their applications on January 20. If enacted, the new rules may render some applicants ineligible due to updated absence criteria. Additionally, processing timelines could change, potentially impacting the experience of applicants. Those who have already submitted claims may face uncertainty regarding how the new law will apply to their cases. For more information, visit the Government of Canada immigration page.

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What are the main features of Canada's Bill C-12?

Canada's Bill C-12 focuses on enhancing immigration enforcement and addressing security and fraud concerns. It aims to strengthen compliance with immigration laws, increase security measures within immigration processes, and combat transnational crimes such as human trafficking and drug smuggling. Additionally, the bill proposes administrative changes to improve the processing and monitoring of immigration applications, ensuring greater oversight and accountability. This legislation reflects the government's commitment to managing immigration with an emphasis on security and integrity.

How do changes affect spousal sponsorship applications?

Changes in immigration law, processing delays, or specific situations can impact spousal sponsorship applications. For detailed information on current regulations and procedures, visit the official IRCC website. It is important to stay informed about any updates that may affect your application.

Kamal Deep Singh, RCIC

Kamal Deep Singh, RCIC (Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant) licensed by CICC (formerly known as ICCRC) with member number R708618. He brings extensive knowledge of immigration law and new changes to rapidly evolving IRCC.