Client Alert!
In October 2025, the Government of Canada introduced Bill C-12, titled the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act, a landmark piece of legislation proposing significant changes to Canadian immigration, asylum, and border security law.
Summary of Key Provisions
Bill C-12 introduces wide-ranging reforms across multiple areas of Canada’s immigration and border enforcement system. In the area of border security, the legislation grants the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) expanded authority to conduct inspections at warehouses, transport hubs, and other facilities, while also expanding the Canadian Coast Guard’s role to include national security patrols and intelligence activities.
In terms of immigration powers, the bill authorizes the Minister of Immigration to cancel or suspend entire categories of pending applications when such action is deemed necessary to preserve the integrity or efficiency of the immigration system. This marks a significant shift from case-by-case decision-making to broad administrative discretion.
The legislation also tightens refugee and asylum procedures, introducing stricter filing timelines and reducing access to full hearings before the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB). Many claimants will instead be directed to the Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) process, which offers more limited procedural protections.
To address organized crime and illicit financing, Bill C-12 enhances intelligence sharing among government agencies and strengthens measures targeting money laundering and the trafficking of fentanyl and other narcotics.
Finally, the bill includes targeted provisions that will substantially affect the Start-Up Visa (SUV) Program and related business incubator initiatives. Applicants linked to incubators that fail to meet new compliance standards could see their applications canceled as part of the government’s broader effort to streamline and safeguard the immigration system.