Rights Organizations Decry Shameful Attack on Refugees and Migrants
Picket at Montreal MP's office against Bill C-12, November
13, 2025
In a press release issued on the website of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association one day after passage of Bill C-12, the Strengthening Canada's Immigration System and Borders Act, a broad coalition of rights organizations condemned the bill: "This egregious bill marks a significant attack on refugee and migrant rights in Canada, and has been criticized by the UN Human Rights Committee for undermining critical procedural safeguards for refugees."
The coalition notes that the legislation limits the ability to seek refugee protection in Canada, "enabling the mass cancellation of immigration documents and applications, and facilitating the sharing of personal information within and outside the country." It claims it will "put thousands [...] at risk of persecution, violence and precarity."
It also points out that in June 2025, over 300 organizations had "urged the government to withdraw Bill C-2, its predecessor" noting that their concerns "were ignored" and that the groups "were largely excluded from the legislative process in the House of Commons."
Despite this, a "broad range of experts and individuals" who did appear in the Senate underscored "the harmful effects of Bill C-12," while "the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology recommended deleting parts of Bill C-12 that would make changes to immigration and refugee protection laws, due to human rights, privacy and due process concerns." Again however, "these recommendations were ignored, and no significant amendments were made as the government fast-tracked this deplorable piece of legislation."
Notes the coalition: "This government is replicating U.S.-like anti-migrant sentiment and policies in Canada." It also expressed concern "about the dangerous trend towards discretionary power and the further erosion of refugee and migrant rights slated in future legislative and policy reforms, including imminent changes to the Interim Federal Health Program coming into effect on May 1."
The press release ends with the coalition vowing to "fight back against this attack" which sees "refugees and migrants [...] scapegoated for the crises that governments at all levels have created."
For the full list of signatories, click here.
(Canadian Civil Liberties Association)
This article was published in
Volume 56 Number 3 - March-April, 2026
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/TML2026/Articles/M560311.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca Email: editor@cpcml.ca