Amnesty International sounded the alarm on November 6, issuing an urgent action that labels Ottawa’s proposed Strong Borders Act (Bill C-12) a threat to asylum-seekers’ due-process rights. The bill would bar individuals who have lived in Canada for more than a year from accessing a full Immigration and Refugee Board hearing, redirecting them to a pre-removal risk assessment with a historically lower approval rate.
The legislation also grants broad ministerial powers to suspend or cancel immigration documents and to share data across enforcement agencies. Supporters in government argue that the measures will deter fraudulent claims and help process a backlog exceeding 280,000 cases, but human-rights groups say they contravene Canada’s obligations under the Refugee Convention and could lead to refoulement.
![Bill C-12 under fire: Amnesty warns Canada risks violating refugee rights]()
If enacted, mobility professionals should brace for faster—but potentially harsher—decisions on employees or recruits who have outstanding refugee claims. Organisations that provide relocation assistance to humanitarian workers may need to adjust contingency plans, including legal-aid budgets and mental-health support.
The bill is currently before the House of Commons; immigration lawyers expect intense committee scrutiny and possible constitutional challenges. Businesses employing claimants with work authorisation are advised to track their staff’s case status closely and prepare alternative work-permit strategies should claimants lose status.
Beyond immediate operational impacts, the controversy signals a tougher political climate around borders—a factor global-mobility teams must weigh when forecasting Canada-bound moves in 2026.
The legislation also grants broad ministerial powers to suspend or cancel immigration documents and to share data across enforcement agencies. Supporters in government argue that the measures will deter fraudulent claims and help process a backlog exceeding 280,000 cases, but human-rights groups say they contravene Canada’s obligations under the Refugee Convention and could lead to refoulement.
If enacted, mobility professionals should brace for faster—but potentially harsher—decisions on employees or recruits who have outstanding refugee claims. Organisations that provide relocation assistance to humanitarian workers may need to adjust contingency plans, including legal-aid budgets and mental-health support.
The bill is currently before the House of Commons; immigration lawyers expect intense committee scrutiny and possible constitutional challenges. Businesses employing claimants with work authorisation are advised to track their staff’s case status closely and prepare alternative work-permit strategies should claimants lose status.
Beyond immediate operational impacts, the controversy signals a tougher political climate around borders—a factor global-mobility teams must weigh when forecasting Canada-bound moves in 2026.
