Anti-Immigrant Measures Become Law
Dark Day as Canada Takes Another Step Backward Amidst Vigorous and Sustained Opposition
March 26, 2026 will be remembered as a dark day in Canada as it is the day Bill C-12, the Strengthening Canada's Immigration System and Borders Act became law. This legislation originated in the omnibus Bill C-2, the Strong Borders Act in October 2025. Bill C-12 was carved out of Bill C-2 due to objections from other cartel parties in the House of Commons. The then minority government of Prime Minister Mark Carney would likely not have been able to pass Bill C-2 without acquiescing to objections by the Conservatives about expanded surveillance power by the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service and other similar measures.
Most importantly, Bill C-12 has been broadly opposed by working people and a broad cross-section of rights organizations at every stage of its existence, as well as by scholars, legal experts and many others. Attempts by some Senators to blunt the most egregious aspects of the bill were ultimately cast aside.
Like Bill C-2, Bill C-12 is an omnibus bill, a 75-page piece of legislation that revises nine existing pieces of legislation:
- the Customs Act,
- the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act,
- the Cannabis Act,
- the Oceans Act,
- the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act,
- the Department of Citizenship and Immigration Act,
- the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act,
- the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Act, and
- the Sex Offender Information Registration Act
Bill C-2 and now Bill C-12 came about in response to spurious claims from U.S. President Donald Trump that the border with Canada is a significant source of criminal activity that negatively affects the U.S. due to "dangerous migrants" and out-of-control trafficking of the opioid fentanyl and related materials. Trump demanded that Canada bring its border security measures in line with U.S. demands as part of its trade war.
Now that Bill C-12 has passed, appeasement of President Trump is seemingly no longer part of the discussion. There has been no talk of how passage of Bill C-12 should figure in the current round of U.S.-Canada trade negotiations.
This confirms the people's profound concerns about Bill C-12 from the start, that its main aim was a broad, craven and chauvinist attack on the rights of refugees, migrants and immigrants in Canada.
The passage of Bill C-12 into law represents a broad attack on the rights of all and means stepping up the work to defend the rights of all and to achieve status for all.
This article was published in
Volume 56 Number 3 - March-April, 2026
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/TML2026/Articles/M560310.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca