Overview: Conservative Party’s Bill C-12 Amendment Package
The Conservative Party of Canada has announced comprehensive amendments to Bill C-12, targeting fundamental reforms to Canada’s immigration and asylum system. Conservative MP Michelle Rempel outlined the proposals ahead of the clause-by-clause review at the House of Commons committee on national security, describing them as “constructive” responses to declining public confidence in immigration management.
The proposed amendments address asylum processing backlogs, deportation procedures, Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) governance, and border security screening—issues that have generated increasing concern across the political spectrum.
Key Takeaway: These amendments represent the most significant proposed overhaul of Canada’s immigration system in recent years, aiming to balance humanitarian obligations with system efficiency and public safety.
What is Bill C-12?
Bill C-12 is federal legislation currently under review that addresses national security and immigration matters in Canada. The Conservative amendments seek to strengthen operational capacity, reduce processing delays, and improve transparency in how Canada manages asylum claims, deportations, and refugee protection.
Eight Core Objectives of Conservative Amendments
The Conservative proposal encompasses eight primary reform areas:
- Strengthen asylum processing efficiency and reduce claim backlogs
- Reduce fraudulent or unfounded asylum claims through enhanced screening
- Update detention, removal, and appeals processes to improve enforcement
- Modernize criminality thresholds for deportation eligibility
- Improve transparency in federal immigration reporting
- Address operational gaps within the Immigration and Refugee Board
- Reinforce screening and verification procedures for security purposes
- Align eligibility rules with system capacity and resource availability
According to Rempel, these objectives respond to operational pressures that have eroded public trust in Canada’s immigration system, without targeting newcomers themselves.
Canada’s Asylum System Crisis: By the Numbers
The Growing Backlog
Canada’s asylum system has experienced unprecedented growth over the past decade, creating significant operational challenges:
- 2015: Fewer than 10,000 pending asylum cases
- 2024: Nearly 300,000 pending cases
- Appeal timelines: Often exceed 3 years
- Processing capacity: Overwhelmed by volume increases
Factors Contributing to Increased Claims
The surge in asylum applications stems from multiple sources:
- Irregular border crossings between official ports of entry
- Secondary migration from individuals rejected in the United States
- Visa policy changes that lifted requirements for certain countries
- Temporary residents filing claims while already in Canada
- Extended appeal processes creating resolution delays
Federal expenditures related to asylum claimants have risen substantially during this period, placing additional pressure on health care, housing, and social services.
Major Proposed Amendments to Asylum Processing
Eligibility and Claims Filing Reforms
The Conservative amendments include significant changes to who can file asylum claims and how those claims are processed:
Proposed Eligibility Restrictions:
- G7 transit rule: Individuals traveling through G7 countries before arriving in Canada would be ineligible to file asylum claims
- Enhanced verification: Expanded screening requirements during initial assessment
- Educational institution accountability: Post-secondary schools would face financial consequences when former international students file unfounded asylum claims
- Abandonment provisions: Claims deemed abandoned if claimants return to home countries while cases remain active
Claims Processing Changes:
- False information penalties: Automatic rejection for providing misleading information
- Burden of proof shift: Claimants must demonstrate timely filing
- Complete submissions required: Full protection grounds must be submitted at outset, not gradually
- Expedited screening: Faster initial determinations to reduce backlog
Benefits and Support Modifications
The proposed amendments would significantly restrict federal support for failed asylum claimants:
- Post-rejection benefits: Federal benefits restricted after claim rejection
- Health care limitations: Support limited to emergency medical care only for failed claimants
- Program oversight: Enhanced monitoring of social program expenditures
- Cost containment: Measures to address expanding federal health and housing support costs
Rempel argued that expanded supports over the past decade have contributed to unsustainable program pressures.
Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) Reforms
The IRB serves as Canada’s independent tribunal for immigration and refugee matters. The Conservative amendments propose substantial governance changes:
Proposed IRB Structural Changes
Appointment Process Modernization:
- Reduce political influence in member appointments
- Ensure leadership reflects current immigration trends
- Include provincial demographic considerations
- Appoint members with law enforcement or investigative backgrounds
Performance and Accountability:
- Implement performance benchmarks for decision-makers
- Increase oversight mechanisms
- Update structures to match current claim volumes
- Address country-of-origin pattern shifts
Rempel noted that the IRB’s appointment structure has remained largely unchanged despite dramatic shifts in caseload and claim composition.
Appeals and Judicial Review Reforms
Streamlining the Appeals Process
Canada’s current asylum appeal system includes multiple layers that can extend case resolution timelines significantly. The Conservative proposals aim to reduce redundancy:
Proposed Appeal Changes:
- Modernize appeal structures to eliminate duplicative steps
- Streamline judicial review processes
- Allow additional appeals only with new evidence or changed circumstances
- Reduce overall timeline from initial claim to final resolution
Enhanced Federal Reporting Requirements
New Transparency Measures:
- Regular public reports on asylum-related expenditures by federal departments
- Expanded annual immigration report to Parliament
- Performance and compliance data included in reporting
- Greater accessibility for lawmakers and public assessment
According to Rempel, current reporting structures provide insufficient information for meaningful oversight.
Border Security and Criminality Threshold Updates
Strengthening Deportation Rules
The Conservative amendments address concerns about non-citizens convicted of serious crimes remaining in Canada:
Proposed Criminality Changes:
- Expanded definition: All indictable offenses classified as serious criminality
- Hybrid offenses: Same standard applied when prosecuted by indictment
- Pre-removal risk assessments: Restricted access to repeat applications
- Evidence requirements: Additional appeals only with new evidence or changed conditions
Enforcement Improvements:
- Clear timelines for executing removal orders
- Updated procedures to address enforcement backlogs
- Improved tracking systems for individuals subject to removal
- Accountability measures for cases where individuals cannot be located
Rempel referenced media reports of individuals avoiding deportation after receiving sentences below the threshold triggering mandatory removal, calling for updated procedures to close such gaps.
Security Screening Enhancements
Addressing Self-Declaration Concerns
During committee discussions, questions arose about reports that asylum claimants could self-declare elements of their security screening. Rempel indicated that Conservative MPs will use upcoming committee meetings to:
- Request detailed explanations from immigration officials
- Clarify current screening procedures and protocols
- Examine reports of individuals with foreign terrorist organization ties entering Canada
- Propose enhanced verification requirements
These concerns have heightened following security incidents reported in Canadian media.
Provincial and Federal Coordination
Intergovernmental Considerations
When asked about provincial benefit restrictions for asylum seekers, Rempel emphasized that:
- Federal programs require immediate updates
- Conservative amendments focus on limiting federal support to emergency health care for failed claimants
- Federal health expenditures and temporary housing programs contribute to provincial service pressures
- Coordination between levels of government remains essential
The amendments acknowledge that immigration pressures affect multiple levels of government and require coordinated responses.
Public Confidence and System Capacity
Why Public Trust Has Declined
Rempel cited multiple factors contributing to weakening public support for higher immigration levels:
Key Pressure Points:
- Growing asylum claims with lengthening processing times
- Increasing temporary foreign workers and study permit holders
- Rising costs for health care and social programs
- Housing affordability and availability challenges
- Reported gaps in security and verification processes
- Complex appeal systems delaying final decisions
- Difficulties removing individuals with no legal right to remain
Rempel emphasized that declining trust stems from frustration with system functionality, not sentiment toward immigrants themselves.
Poll Data and Public Opinion
Multiple polls show decreasing support for current immigration levels among Canadian voters across the political spectrum. This shift reflects operational concerns rather than opposition to immigration as a policy principle.
Government Response and Next Steps
Federal Acknowledgment
The federal public safety minister has acknowledged that both Bill C-12 and related Bill C-2 contain complexities requiring potential improvements. This acknowledgment suggests openness to constructive amendments, though the extent of government support for Conservative proposals remains unclear.
Committee Timeline
The House of Commons committee on national security will begin the clause-by-clause review of Bill C-12 in the coming days. Key upcoming steps include:
- Amendment presentation: Conservative MPs will formally introduce proposed amendments
- Witness testimony: Additional expert and stakeholder input
- Committee debate: Discussion of specific amendment language
- Voting: Committee members will vote on each proposed change
- House consideration: Amended bill returns to House of Commons for further debate
Long-Term Immigration Policy Implications
Balancing Humanitarian and Operational Objectives
Canada has relied on immigration as a central pillar of population and economic growth for decades. Rempel argued that any sustainable long-term approach requires:
- Credible processing systems with adequate capacity
- Clear removal mechanisms for failed claims
- Transparent decision-making structures
- Public confidence in system integrity
- Alignment between policy goals and operational reality
The proposed amendments aim to address current gaps while maintaining Canada’s commitment to refugee protection and humanitarian obligations.
Expert and Stakeholder Input
Rempel indicated the Conservative proposals incorporate concerns raised by witnesses, immigration experts, and community stakeholders during committee hearings. The amendments reflect input from multiple perspectives on how to improve system functionality.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current asylum backlog in Canada? Canada’s asylum backlog has grown from fewer than 10,000 cases in 2015 to nearly 300,000 in 2024, with appeal timelines often exceeding three years.
How would the G7 transit rule work? Proposed amendments would prevent individuals who traveled through G7 countries (United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Japan) from filing asylum claims in Canada, similar to safe third country agreements.
What crimes would trigger automatic deportation? The amendments propose expanding serious criminality to include all indictable offenses and hybrid offenses prosecuted by indictment, lowering the threshold for mandatory removal.
Would these changes affect legitimate refugees? The Conservative Party states the amendments aim to support legitimate refugees by reducing fraudulent claims and improving processing efficiency, allowing genuine cases to be resolved faster.
When will these amendments be voted on? The clause-by-clause review begins in the coming days at the House of Commons committee on national security, with subsequent House debates and votes to follow.
How do these proposals affect international students? Educational institutions could face financial consequences when former international students file unfounded asylum claims, creating institutional accountability for admission practices.
Critical Analysis and Considerations
Potential Benefits
- Reduced processing backlogs and faster claim resolution
- Enhanced border security and screening procedures
- Greater accountability and transparency in immigration management
- Improved removal enforcement for failed claimants
- Restored public confidence in system integrity
Potential Concerns
- Impact on genuine refugees fleeing persecution
- Canada’s international humanitarian obligations
- Implementation complexity and resource requirements
- Legal challenges to eligibility restrictions
- Provincial coordination and service delivery implications
Conclusion
The Conservative Party’s proposed amendments to Bill C-12 represent a comprehensive effort to reform Canada’s immigration and asylum system. The package addresses operational backlogs, enforcement gaps, transparency deficits, and security screening procedures that have contributed to declining public confidence.
As the House of Commons committee begins its clause-by-clause review, these proposals will face scrutiny from government members, opposition parties, immigration experts, and advocacy organizations. The outcome will significantly impact how Canada manages asylum claims, deportations, and refugee protection in the years ahead.
Whether these amendments are adopted in full, modified, or rejected, they have already shaped the national conversation about immigration system capacity, humanitarian obligations, and public policy sustainability.
For those navigating Canada’s immigration system—whether as asylum seekers, temporary residents, or permanent residents—staying informed about Bill C-12’s evolution is essential for understanding changing requirements and procedures.
