Mr. Speaker, I rise today, as the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, to talk about the strengthening Canada's immigration system and borders act.
Our immigration system is one of our greatest strengths. It fuels our economy, builds our communities and reflects who we are as a country. As patterns of global migration evolve, our system must also evolve. Our government is committed to managing migration in a way that is safe, orderly and fair so that Canadians and those seeking to come here can have confidence in our immigration system. For the next few minutes, I will be speaking about the four provisions that deal with my department in Bill C-12.
Bill C-12 would strengthen Canada's immigration and border system. It would introduce new authorities to improve information sharing with federal, provincial and territorial partners. It would enhance how immigration documents are managed and would support a sustainable asylum system that upholds integrity, restores balance and strengthens public trust, both among Canadians and among those seeking to come to Canada. The bill would also strengthen the flexibility, efficiency and responsiveness of the asylum system by establishing new ineligibility rules, creating a more streamlined application process and focusing Canada's protection on those who need it the most.
As a former provincial minister of immigration, I know how essential it is for the federal, provincial and territorial governments to work together on immigration policies and programs. When I was minister of immigration in Nova Scotia, I saw first-hand how strong partnerships help meet the needs of employers and communities, while supporting diversity and growth. The information shared by the federal government helps provinces and territories plan their programs and services more effectively.
That is why I am particularly proud that the bill makes it easier to share information on immigration, citizenship and passports with our national partners. This will enable us to improve the integrity of government programs and deliver better customer service.
As we improve how information is shared, we also must modernize the asylum system to strengthen migration integrity. To protect the system from sudden surges in claims, Bill C-12 would introduce new ineligibility rules for asylum. These measures make it clear that asylum is not a shortcut to permanent immigration. They would reduce pressure on the system so that protection can be provided more efficiently to those who truly need it.
Under the legislation, the federal government would no longer refer claims to the Immigration and Refugee Board for a decision if claims are made more than a year after someone first arrives after June 24, 2020, or if claims are made 14 or more days after someone enters Canada from the U.S. between official border crossings.
History shows us that most asylum claims are made within the first year of arrival. In the majority of cases, one year gives claimants time to consult experts, gather documents and make an informed decision. The one-year limit discourages those wanting to use the asylum system to extend their stay in Canada if other mechanisms fail. Canada is a generous country that values fairness, but not for those who try to bypass our laws and systems.
The same principle applies to those who cross the border between ports of entry. Despite clear laws and repeated warnings, some still attempt to enter Canada from the U.S. without checking in at an official land border office. It is dangerous, it is not legal and it is not safe. There have been many tragic cases of injury and loss of life. Such routes are often linked to human smuggling and organized crime, placing individuals, often travelling with children, at even greater risk.
If someone wants to come to Canada, the message is clear: They should use our existing lawful programs and pathways. Through federal, provincial and territorial streams, they are welcome to apply.
Claims filed more than a year after claimants first arrive, starting on June 24, 2020, and those filed 14 days or more after an irregular entry would not be referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board for a decision. Those whose claims are found ineligible would be referred to the removal process, with access to a pre-removal risk assessment. Let me be clear. Those who have well-founded fears of returning to their country of origin would have access to protection.
As part of Bill C-12, our government is introducing legislation to better manage immigration documents and applications, improving efficiency and reinforcing the integrity of Canada's immigration system. This legislation would give our government greater flexibility to manage immigration documents and applications. It would allow us to respond quickly and responsibly in times of crisis or uncertainty, while continuing to uphold strong safeguards that protect people's rights and ensure due process.
Canada's immigration system must be able to adapt to global realities and global pressures. Conflict, climate and political instability can all influence and have all influenced migration flows, and our system needs the tools to respond responsibly and effectively.
This bill supports Canada's broader efforts to strengthen the integrity of our immigration system by giving the government the tools it needs to respond quickly and effectively to global challenges while maintaining fairness and transparency.
The pandemic served to highlight the need for clearer powers to manage immigration documents in a time of crisis so that the government can act decisively while continuing to protect human rights.
At the present time, agents have the power to cancel a visa on a case-by-case basis if a person's status changes or if they become ineligible.
For example, this could include cases where false information was provided on an application, a criminal record was uncovered or the applicant passes away.
That authority, however, does not apply to groups of immigration documents. Bill C-12 would give Canada the ability to suspend, change or cancel multiple documents in exceptional circumstances. For example, it could be used during a global health or security crisis, with appropriate safeguards in place to protect people's rights and due process. It would also strengthen the government's ability to pause the intake of new applications when necessary. These authorities would allow the government to act swiftly and responsibly in the public interest, protecting against safety and security threats, health risks or abuse of publicly funded programs.
Let me be clear that this bill does not authorize the automatic cancellation of immigration documents, nor does it affect asylum claims or immigration status. Any use of these authorities would follow a separate evidence-based process and require a decision by the Governor in Council.
In conclusion, these changes reflect the reality that we are living in in today's changing world.
Through this bill, the government would make the asylum system more efficient and responsive, strengthen collaboration with the provinces and territories and focus decisions and resources where they are most needed.
We want to be simpler, faster, fairer and more focused. These reforms would enhance public safety and security, reinforce the integrity of our programs and improve services for those who rely on them. That is the system Canadians elected us for, and that is the system we are here to ensure we have.
I encourage my colleagues to support Bill C-12.
