Canada's new law restricting asylum has sparked widespread condemnation from human rights groups, who claim it will put thousands of individuals at risk of persecution, violence, and precarity. The law, known as Bill C-12, was passed by the Canadian government on Thursday, despite months of concern from refugee and migrant rights advocates. The legislation has been criticized for limiting the ability to seek refugee protection in Canada, enabling the mass cancellation of immigration documents and applications, and facilitating the sharing of personal information within and outside the country.
The signatories to the statement, which include Amnesty International Canada, the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, and the Canadian Council for Refugees, argue that Bill C-12 sets a dangerous precedent by restricting access to the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB), which adjudicates refugee claims. Instead, affected applicants would have access to a pre-removal risk assessment, a process that rights groups say grants refugee claimants fewer protections and is "wholly inadequate".
The law also grants the government the power to cancel immigration documents, including permanent or temporary resident visas, and work or study permits, if it deems it in the "public interest" to do so. This has sparked concerns about the erosion of migrant rights in Canada, with many arguing that the legislation is replicating US-like anti-migrant sentiment and policies.
The Canadian government has justified the legislation as part of a wider effort to reduce pressure on a strained immigration system and bolster the country's border security. However, refugee advocates say they will continue to push back against the legislation, citing concerns about the impact on vulnerable individuals.
As the law takes effect, refugee advocates are bracing for a potential increase in asylum seekers who may be at risk of persecution, violence, and precarity.
Canada's Bill C-12 marks a concerning shift in the country's stance on migrant rights, echoing a global trend of increasingly restrictive immigration policies. The legislation's provisions, which limit access to refugee protection and grant the government sweeping powers to cancel immigration documents, are a stark reminder of the dangers of xenophobia and nationalism. As the law takes effect, it is essential for the international community to hold Canada to account for its obligations under international human rights law.
