Surrey: The Canadian government has unveiled major changes to its refugee and immigration system through Bill C-12, introducing stricter deadlines for asylum applications while retaining humanitarian protections for individuals who could face serious danger if deported.
The reforms, announced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), are intended to reduce growing application backlogs, accelerate processing times and improve the efficiency of Canada’s immigration framework.
Under the new rules, individuals entering Canada through regular channels must file their refugee claims within one year of arriving in the country. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB), effectively making claimants ineligible for refugee status consideration.
The legislation imposes even tighter timelines on migrants entering Canada from the United States through unauthorized routes. Such individuals will now be required to submit asylum claims within 14 days of entry. Claims filed beyond that period will be rejected.
Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab said the reforms are aimed at creating a faster, more transparent and better-managed refugee determination process. As part of the changes, authorities will increasingly encourage online submissions and will process only complete applications to reduce delays caused by missing information or documentation.
The legislation also expands the federal government’s authority to share refugee-related information with provincial and federal agencies to strengthen coordination on immigration management, public services and security matters.
Additionally, the government will receive broader powers to suspend, amend or cancel visas, work permits and study permits when deemed necessary in the public interest, although Parliament must be notified before such measures are implemented.
Despite the stricter asylum framework, Canada has retained an important humanitarian safeguard through the Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) process. Individuals whose refugee claims are considered ineligible may still seek protection by demonstrating that deportation would expose them to persecution, torture or threats to their life.
Officials said the provision ensures that vulnerable individuals continue to have access to protection, even if they do not qualify under the revised refugee rules.
However, Canadian authorities clarified that these humanitarian protections will not be available to individuals involved in criminal activities, emphasizing that public safety remains a key priority alongside humanitarian commitments.
The changes are expected to have a significant impact on immigrant communities across Canada, including many Punjabis and other South Asian migrants who closely monitor developments in the country’s immigration and refugee policies.
