Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to rise today to speak to Bill C-2, a major legislative initiative to both strengthen our asylum system and secure our borders. These two objectives go hand in hand, because we need an effective and humane immigration system that protects vulnerable people, while ensuring the safety of all Canadians.
Every year, thousands of people choose Canada to build a better life, to find refuge and to contribute to our society. However, global migration realities are changing quickly. In 2022, we processed more than 92,000 claims for asylum. That number climbed to more than 171,000 in 2024, which means it nearly doubled in two years. The rapid increase in asylum claims is straining our system. Processing times are getting longer, claimants are living in uncertainty, and our public services are grappling with a heavier workload.
Bill C‑2 proposes concrete, well-thought-out solutions to improve this situation while keeping our system fair and compassionate. One of the measures we are proposing is a single online form for all applications, whether they are submitted at an airport, at a land border or outside the country. This will simplify the process, reduce administrative errors and allow for better coordination between Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency and the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. Furthermore, cases will be pre-screened and scheduling powers will be transferred directly to the board to allow hearings to be held faster and to facilitate planning. This will reduce unnecessary delays and ensure timely decisions. Lastly, we are proposing a simplified process for withdrawing incomplete applications while preserving the applicant's right to explain their situation and present arguments. Together, these measures will speed up decision-making and ensure that asylum continues to be accessible to those who truly need it.
Bill C-2 also introduces clear rules to protect the integrity of the system. For example, a claim for asylum must be filed within one year of the person's arrival in Canada. This time limit will deter people from using the asylum system to circumvent the regular immigration channels or to unduly prolong their temporary stay. The number of irregular border crossings has already diminished since the expansion of the safe third country agreement, but, under this bill, a person who crosses the border illegally and files a claim more than 14 days after their entry into Canada will no longer have their claim referred to the board. These provisions do not close the door on protection, however. Anyone facing persecution will still have the right to a pre-removal risk assessment, so our humanitarian commitment remains intact. In short, we are striking a balance between efficiency, security and compassion, which is essential to the credibility and legitimacy of our asylum system.
The COVID-19 pandemic showed us that we need to be able to respond quickly and effectively in exceptional circumstances. The current laws do not allow a large volume of immigration documents to be suspended, varied or cancelled in response to a widespread crisis. That limits the government's ability to protect Canadians in times of crisis. Bill C‑2 addresses that gap by enabling the government to temporarily suspend certain visas or travel authorizations in the event of a major crisis, whether it be a pandemic, an international conflict or a natural disaster. These temporary powers will enable the government to react quickly to protect the health, safety and well-being of Canadians while ensuring the continuity of essential services.
The second major mission of Bill C-2 is to strengthen border security and combat transnational organized crime. The bill builts on the historic $1.3‑billion investment and is structured around three pillars. The first pillar is to secure the border by modernizing the Customs Act, by improving the efficiency of export inspections, including inspections of rail and marine shipping containers, and by adding security-related activities to the Canadian Coast Guard's mandate. The second pillar is to combat fentanyl and organized crime by facilitating the seizure of mail for criminal investigations, by creating an accelerated scheduling pathway for precursor chemicals, and by providing legal access to electronic data in order to disrupt trafficking networks. The third pillar is to crack down on money laundering by introducing stiffer penalties, a ban on certain cash deposits over $10,000, and better information sharing between banks, the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada, or FINTRAC, and law enforcement.
All of these measures come with robust, transparent oversight mechanisms to ensure compliance with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and protect Canadians' privacy. This gives law enforcement the tools it needs while safeguarding the public trust.
Those are not abstract issues. They are having a direct impact on Laval and the riding of Alfred-Pellan. Laval is a strategic economic and logistical hub, being close to the port of Montreal, the international airport, Highway 15 and major railway routes. Those attributes foster innovation and prosperity, but they also attract the attention of criminal networks. In 2024, Laval recorded more than 3,300 crimes and offences, including more than 800 auto thefts. More and more luxury cars are being stolen for export, threatening the safety of local residents and businesses. Thanks to the new export inspection powers, we will be able to intercept those vehicles before they leave the country, enabling us to protect property and strengthen public trust.
The fight against fentanyl is also crucial for our community. Our police services and community organizations are grappling with an overdose crisis that is affecting too many families in Laval. Bill C‑2 provides meaningful federal support to combat this scourge by coordinating the efforts of local, provincial, and national agencies. By protecting the integrity of cross-border trade, we are also protecting innovative Laval businesses in the logistics, pharmaceutical and international trade sectors, as well as the thousands of jobs they generate. This bill helps create a safe and prosperous environment for families, workers and entrepreneurs in my riding.
Like all Canadians, the people of Alfred-Pellan want safe communities, a fair and efficient immigration system, and an economy protected from the threat of crime. Bill C‑2 equips our border, police and justice services with tools for the 21st century. It protects our youth from the scourge of fentanyl, our businesses from financial crime, and our families from auto theft and fraud. It strengthens trust in our asylum system and enables us to respond effectively to global crises. We are reinforcing the system to reflect today's realities, protect Canadians and prepare for tomorrow's challenges. We are also sending a clear message—