Canada’s long-debated Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act (Bill C-12) cleared the House of Commons on 11 December and, according to government and media reports published on 25 December, has now begun first-reading scrutiny in the Senate. The bill would allow the Governor General, acting on Cabinet advice, to 1) stop accepting new applications for any immigration class, and 2) suspend or terminate the processing of files already in the system, whenever doing so is deemed to be “in the public interest.” The powers cover permanent-resident visas, study and work permits, temporary-resident visas, electronic travel authorisations and even the issuance of new PR cards.
Proponents argue that the extra flexibility will let Ottawa react quickly to national-security threats, public-health crises or large-scale fraud. Officials would have to table a report in Parliament each time the powers are used, specifying how many files were affected and why. Supporters inside the Liberal caucus say similar ministerial ‘stop-start’ powers already exist in Australia and New Zealand and have proved useful during economic downturns.
In that context, organisations and individuals reconsidering their Canada-bound plans can turn to VisaHQ’s dedicated portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) for real-time visa requirements, customised checklists and expert guidance. VisaHQ’s specialists track developments such as Bill C-12 daily and can advise clients on when to accelerate filings, pause applications or pivot to alternative permit categories, helping minimise disruption and compliance risk.
![Bill C-12 inches toward Senate approval, could give Ottawa power to freeze visa processing]()
Immigration lawyers, business associations and refugee advocates warn the language is so broad that it could be invoked to cap programmes for political or budgetary reasons. Corporations fear sudden moratoria on high-volume streams such as the Global Talent Stream or Post-Graduate Work Permit could derail hiring plans with no advance notice. Refugee organisations note that the bill also tightens timelines for making an asylum claim and expands CBSA powers to declare claims ‘abandoned.’
Practically, global-mobility teams should treat Bill C-12 as a signal that Canada’s previously predictable intake levels could become much more elastic. Contingency plans—shifting new hires to intra-company transfer work permits, or staggering intakes across multiple jurisdictions—will become essential should the Senate pass the bill unchanged in early 2026. Companies are advised to front-load critical filings and keep senior leadership briefed on the bill’s progress through second and third readings.
If the Senate amends the text, the House would have to agree before royal assent. Observers expect an intensive lobbying push by both industry and civil-society groups in January, setting the stage for a pivotal vote when Parliament resumes in February.
Proponents argue that the extra flexibility will let Ottawa react quickly to national-security threats, public-health crises or large-scale fraud. Officials would have to table a report in Parliament each time the powers are used, specifying how many files were affected and why. Supporters inside the Liberal caucus say similar ministerial ‘stop-start’ powers already exist in Australia and New Zealand and have proved useful during economic downturns.
In that context, organisations and individuals reconsidering their Canada-bound plans can turn to VisaHQ’s dedicated portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) for real-time visa requirements, customised checklists and expert guidance. VisaHQ’s specialists track developments such as Bill C-12 daily and can advise clients on when to accelerate filings, pause applications or pivot to alternative permit categories, helping minimise disruption and compliance risk.
Immigration lawyers, business associations and refugee advocates warn the language is so broad that it could be invoked to cap programmes for political or budgetary reasons. Corporations fear sudden moratoria on high-volume streams such as the Global Talent Stream or Post-Graduate Work Permit could derail hiring plans with no advance notice. Refugee organisations note that the bill also tightens timelines for making an asylum claim and expands CBSA powers to declare claims ‘abandoned.’
Practically, global-mobility teams should treat Bill C-12 as a signal that Canada’s previously predictable intake levels could become much more elastic. Contingency plans—shifting new hires to intra-company transfer work permits, or staggering intakes across multiple jurisdictions—will become essential should the Senate pass the bill unchanged in early 2026. Companies are advised to front-load critical filings and keep senior leadership briefed on the bill’s progress through second and third readings.
If the Senate amends the text, the House would have to agree before royal assent. Observers expect an intensive lobbying push by both industry and civil-society groups in January, setting the stage for a pivotal vote when Parliament resumes in February.
