On Dec. 11, 2025 Bill C-12, Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act, was passed by the federal parliament in the House of Commons. The bill was proposed on Oct. 8, 2025 by Canada’s Minister of Public Safety, Gary Anandasangaree. The press release claimed that the bill seeks to maintain and strengthen border safety.
Bill C-12 will allow Canadian authorities to cancel visas, including work and study permits. Immigration and Refugee lawyer Chantal Desloges argued that this will allow authorities to cancel both pending and existing permits, regardless of people’s qualifications.
The bill also stated that it will do so only in the name of the “public interest.” Desloges explained that in the legal world, “public interest” refers to what best suits the government for any given reason.
More than 300 organizations have petitioned for the full removal of Bill C-12, including the Centre for Free Expression, Amnesty International, and the Canadian Labour Congress — drawing comparisons to U.S. President Donald Trump administration’s current crackdown on immigration that has led to inhumane treatment of both immigrants and citizens alike.
Bill C-12 has not yet been passed by the Senate, and The Cascade will continue to report updates as events unfold.
