The House of Commons on 11 December gave third-reading approval to Bill C-12, the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act, sending the legislation to the Senate with all-party support. The omnibus bill amends the Customs Act to require landlords of port-of-entry facilities to provide space rent-free to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and grants officers new authority to inspect outbound goods at export warehouses.
It also codifies information-sharing protocols between CBSA and IRCC, enabling real-time status updates on visa overstays and deportation orders. For multinational firms that move cargo and staff across the 49th parallel, the most practical change is the creation of ‘Designated Pre-export Zones’, where exporters can clear goods digitally before they reach marine or air terminals—promising faster turnaround and fewer last-minute holds.
Businesses monitoring these developments may find it useful to engage a specialist service. VisaHQ’s Canadian portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) offers real-time visa and eTA validation tools, customised compliance alerts, and bulk processing options that integrate smoothly into corporate travel workflows—helping carriers and mobility teams adapt quickly as Bill C-12’s new data-sharing and carrier-liability rules come into force.
![Parliament Passes Bill C-12 to Modernise Border and Immigration Enforcement]()
The bill further introduces administrative monetary penalties for carriers that transport foreign nationals without the proper electronic travel authorisation, bringing fines in line with U.S. and EU regimes. Carriers and travel-management companies will need to update compliance checklists once regulations are published, expected in early 2026.
While business groups largely support the bill, some civil-liberty advocates argue that expanded export-control powers could sweep up personal electronic devices. The public-safety minister has promised parliamentary review after the first year of implementation.
Assuming timely Senate approval, most provisions will enter into force 90 days after Royal Assent—likely in spring 2026—giving corporate mobility teams a short runway to adapt internal processes and employee training modules.
It also codifies information-sharing protocols between CBSA and IRCC, enabling real-time status updates on visa overstays and deportation orders. For multinational firms that move cargo and staff across the 49th parallel, the most practical change is the creation of ‘Designated Pre-export Zones’, where exporters can clear goods digitally before they reach marine or air terminals—promising faster turnaround and fewer last-minute holds.
Businesses monitoring these developments may find it useful to engage a specialist service. VisaHQ’s Canadian portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) offers real-time visa and eTA validation tools, customised compliance alerts, and bulk processing options that integrate smoothly into corporate travel workflows—helping carriers and mobility teams adapt quickly as Bill C-12’s new data-sharing and carrier-liability rules come into force.
The bill further introduces administrative monetary penalties for carriers that transport foreign nationals without the proper electronic travel authorisation, bringing fines in line with U.S. and EU regimes. Carriers and travel-management companies will need to update compliance checklists once regulations are published, expected in early 2026.
While business groups largely support the bill, some civil-liberty advocates argue that expanded export-control powers could sweep up personal electronic devices. The public-safety minister has promised parliamentary review after the first year of implementation.
Assuming timely Senate approval, most provisions will enter into force 90 days after Royal Assent—likely in spring 2026—giving corporate mobility teams a short runway to adapt internal processes and employee training modules.
