Senate committee calls for gutting of flagship immigration bill over human rights concerns

In the end, Senate approved without amendments:

A flagship bill that would tighten Canada’s immigration and asylum rules should be gutted, with key sections removed to address concerns regarding human rights and privacy, a Senate committee has recommended. 

The Senate committee on social affairs, science and technology has been studying Bill C-12 and hearing from experts. In a new report, it expressed fears that parts of the proposed legislation would lead to an “overreach of executive powers” and have a disproportionate impact on women and members of the LGBTQ community. 

The Senate committee called for the deletion of parts 5 to 8 of the bill and, failing that, for substantial amendments including to sections tightening up Canada’s asylum system. 

The Senate committee on public safety, which has also been examining Bill C-12, reviewed the proposed legislation in detail on Monday and discussed amendments after considering the social affairs committee’s recommendations. 

Of particular concern to the social affairs committee was part 8, which would prevent asylum seekers who have been in Canada for more than a year from having claims for refugee protection heard by the independent Immigration and Refugee Board.

The purpose of the rule, according to Immigration Department officials who addressed senators, is to prevent potential misuse of the system, such as by international students who claim asylum because they want to remain in Canada. 

But the Senate Social Affairs committee report warned that the change could mean that someone who visited Canada as a baby for a day and later returned at age 10 could be deemed ineligible to be heard at the independent tribunal. …

Source: Senate committee calls for gutting of flagship immigration bill over human rights concerns