Citizenship and Immigration

This House of Commons committee meeting on October 30, 2025, studied the subject matter of Bill C-12, an act respecting certain measures relating to the security of Canada's borders and the integrity of the Canadian immigration system. Appearing were Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Lena Metlege Diab, along with officials Jean-Marc Gionet, Tara Lang, Aaron McCrorie, Mory Afshar, and Jason Hollmann.

Jean-Marc Gionet, Acting Assistant Deputy Minister, stated that the department's assessment is that the bill's provisions are consistent with the Charter. He noted that the department is preparing to ensure enough decision-makers to handle the anticipated increase in inadmissible claims referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB), to implement measures making the system more efficient.

Tara Lang, Director General, explained that the bill's information-sharing provisions would close gaps in how client information is shared, saving time and money by giving federal, provincial, and territorial partners faster access to data to confirm identities and detect fraud. She also noted that the mass document authority could be used to mass extend documents, for example to health care workers during a crisis, and that in a cyber-attack scenario, the government could pause applications to investigate potential fraud.

Aaron McCrorie, Vice-President of CBSA, stated that the ministerial due diligence process in Bill C-12 would allow CBSA and IRCC to complete security screening before claims are scheduled with the IRB, creating a more efficient process with hearing-ready cases. He noted that data on removal inventories and warrants is published on the CBSA website.

Mory Afshar, Acting Executive Director and Senior General Counsel, deferred on policy rationale to other officials but indicated he could respond to legal or Charter questions. He did not provide substantive testimony beyond this.

Jason Hollmann, Director General, explained that the two new ineligibility rules—the one-year deadline and the 14-day rule for those crossing irregularly from the U.S.—are designed to protect the asylum system from surges and deter misuse. He stated that the one-year deadline is a reasonable time frame for someone to apply, and that affected individuals would have access to a pre-removal risk assessment (PRRA), which applies the same criteria as the IRB.

Minister Diab stated that the bill is Charter-compliant, as assessed by the Department of Justice, and that the mass cancellation powers are not designed to block people in need of protection but to respond to exceptional circumstances like large-scale fraud, pandemics, or national security threats, with decisions made by the Governor in Council and published in the Canada Gazette. She confirmed that no asylum claimants are currently in federally funded hotel accommodations and that the immigration levels plan will be part of the budget tabled on November 4.

The committee did not engage in procedural debate, motions, or votes during this meeting.