A sweeping overhaul of Canada’s border security is brewing in Parliament, spearheaded by Conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel Garner. She’s vowed to significantly reshape the government’s Bill C-12, aiming to address what she describes as a fundamentally broken asylum system.
Rempel Garner’s proposed amendments are ambitious and far-reaching. One key change would disqualify asylum seekers who travelled through Europe or another G7 nation before reaching Canada, effectively narrowing the pool of eligible claimants.
Beyond that, she intends to restrict access to social benefits – with the exception of emergency medical care – for individuals whose asylum claims are ultimately rejected. This aims to disincentivize prolonged stays for those without legal standing.
The Conservative critic also plans to accelerate the deportation process for non-citizens. This would apply to those convicted of crimes, or those who fail pre-removal risk assessments, streamlining removal from the country.
Rempel Garner argues that the current system is overwhelmed, citing a surge in both permanent and temporary immigration alongside a growing number of asylum claims. She believes this strain has eroded public support for immigration policies.
Bill C-12, in its current form, already seeks to limit asylum eligibility based on the length of time an individual has been in Canada – specifically, those present for over a year. Rempel Garner’s amendments would build upon this foundation, tightening restrictions further.
The proposed changes are set to be formally introduced during the bill’s clause-by-clause analysis at an upcoming House of Commons committee meeting. This stage will be crucial, as MPs debate and vote on each amendment, potentially reshaping the future of Canada’s border security.
