Major Immigration Bill Advances: What Bill C-12 Means for Permits and Asylum Seekers

The Canadian immigration landscape is on the brink of a massive transformation. Bill C-12—officially titled "An Act respecting certain measures relating to the security of Canada's borders and the integrity of the Canadian immigration system"—is rapidly advancing through the Senate.

On February 25, 2026, the Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs reported the bill to the Senate with absolutely no amendments. This paves the way for the bill to become law in its current, highly powerful form, fundamentally altering the rights of temporary residents and asylum seekers.

1. Sweeping Executive Powers Over Immigration Documents

The most debated aspect of Bill C-12 (which is a successor to the earlier Bill C-2) is the unprecedented authority it grants to the Governor in Council—essentially the Governor General acting on the direct advice of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

If passed, the government will have the unilateral power to:

• Vary, cancel, or suspend active immigration documents, including work permits, study permits, and permanent resident visas.
• Cease accepting new applications.
• Suspend or completely terminate the processing of existing immigration applications.
• Impose new, immediate conditions on temporary residents already inside Canada.

2. A Massive Overhaul of Canada's Asylum System

Bill C-12 takes direct aim at what the government views as abuses of the refugee protection system. The draft legislation introduces severe new restrictions that will make thousands of individuals ineligible for asylum.

The 1-Year Rule & US Border Restrictions

Under the new law, a foreign national is ineligible to claim asylum if they:

• Entered Canada after June 24, 2020, and waited more than one year after their date of entry to make a refugee claim.
• Entered Canada along the Canada-US land border outside of an official port of entry. (Under current legislation, irregular crossers could still claim asylum if they waited 14 days; this loophole is being closed).
• Have their proceedings suspended because they are currently outside of Canada.

Crucial Note on Retroactivity: If the bill becomes law, these restrictions will apply retroactively to the date the bill was initially introduced. Claims made prior to the bill's introduction will not be affected.

3. The Senate Battle: Why Were No Amendments Made?

The smooth advancement of Bill C-12 comes as a surprise to many, especially considering the fierce pushback from secondary committees.

On February 20, the Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology (SOCI)—which acted as a secondary reviewer—recommended gutting nearly all of the bill's immigration reforms. SOCI proposed completely removing the executive powers granted to the Governor in Council and striking down the asylum reforms and data-sharing provisions.

However, because SOCI was not the primary committee tasked with reviewing C-12, their proposals were treated only as recommendations. The primary committee (National Security & Defence) chose to report the bill on February 25 without integrating any of SOCI's sweeping cuts.

4. What Happens Next?

For Bill C-12 to become law, it must pass its third reading in the Senate in the exact same form it passed the House of Commons, followed by Royal Assent.

The critical third reading is scheduled for Thursday, February 26, 2026. During this sitting, Senators have three options:

1. Pass the bill as-is (leading directly to Royal Assent and the bill becoming law).
2. Propose and vote on new amendments (which would force the bill back to the House of Commons, delaying it).
3. Vote to reject the bill entirely.