Senators serving on the social affairs committee are advocating for the removal or significant revision of immigration-related sections within the government’s border bill, C-12, by the Senate national security committee. The national security committee is tasked with proposing amendments, whereas the social affairs committee has thoroughly examined the bill’s immigration provisions.
In a recent study accessed by The Canadian Press, the social affairs committee’s findings reveal concerns raised by witnesses regarding potential human rights violations and procedural fairness deficiencies in the legislation. Bill C-12 includes provisions concerning immigration, focusing on information-sharing and asylum system management. Additionally, it suggests granting the government new authority to alter or cancel existing immigration documents and applications.
The committee’s report emphasizes that if the national security committee chooses not to eliminate the immigration sections, it should enhance parliamentary oversight mechanisms in the legislation and insert a sunset clause mandating a parliamentary review. Civil society groups that testified before the Senate social affairs committee widely applauded the report’s recommendations.
Karen Cocq, spokesperson for the Migrant Rights Network, expressed satisfaction with the senators’ receptiveness to concerns raised by those directly affected by Bill C-12, emphasizing the need for the removal of the immigration sections.
The Senate committee report presents nine additional recommendations aimed at addressing issues highlighted during witness testimonies. One contentious aspect of the bill restricts individuals who arrived in Canada over a year ago from submitting refugee claims to the Immigration and Refugee Board. Witnesses proposed extending this period to five years to prevent unintended consequences, such as inhibiting legitimate asylum claims from individuals who entered the country in their youth.
The bill’s proposed powers allowing the government to cancel or modify various immigration documents, including permanent residency cards, were scrutinized by witnesses, who cautioned against potential misuse under the vague “public interest” justification. The committee advises including an amendment to ensure rigorous parliamentary oversight of these powers.
Moreover, the social affairs committee recommends allocating additional resources to the Immigration and Refugee Board to address the substantial backlog of approximately 300,000 pending claims. Furthermore, they propose amendments to the bill to exempt permanent residents and naturalized citizens from information-sharing and introduce mandatory scrutiny by the privacy commissioner.
The Senate national security committee is set to conduct a detailed examination of the bill on Monday, during which potential amendments can be introduced. The bill faces a second reading vote deadline of Feb. 26.
