Advocacy groups call for federal government to drop Bill C-12

November 24, 2025

RED FM News Desk

Migrant advocacy groups are urging the federal government to withdraw its border security legislation, Bill C-12, warning that it creates opportunities for serious violations of migrants’ rights.

The bill introduces several changes to immigration and asylum processes, including a provision that would prevent people from submitting refugee claims to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada if they have been in the country for more than a year.

Bill C-12 is currently under committee review in the House of Commons and is scheduled for clause-by-clause examination at the National Security Committee on Tuesday.

Conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel Garner said last week she intends to propose multiple amendments, including one that would bar refugee claims from people arriving from European or G7 countries.

Karen Cocq, spokesperson for the Migrant Rights Network, says restricting who can file asylum applications violates international law and is unconstitutional.

The Migrant Rights Network and its partner organizations say they attempted to appear before the committee as witnesses to speak to the bill but were not granted a spot.