Senate Committee Sends Controversial Bill C-12 to Third Reading With Immigration Powers Intact

In a late-day sitting on 25 February 2026, the Senate Standing Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs voted to report Bill C-12—formally the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act—back to the full Senate without amendments. The decision preserves provisions that would allow Cabinet to cancel or modify immigration documents en masse and impose a one-year deadline on most asylum claims. Advocacy groups had lobbied for weeks to strip Parts 5-8 of the bill, warning that the so-called “mass cancellation” powers could see thousands of valid study permits, work permits or even permanent resident visas voided with limited recourse. The Senate Social Affairs Committee had recommended deleting those sections on 23 February, but its advice was overruled by the National Security Committee after immigration minister Lena Metlege Diab argued the powers were essential to combat fraud and address security threats. For global mobility programmes the stakes are high. If the bill passes third reading—scheduled for 26 February—and receives Royal Assent, employers could face sudden document revocations for foreign staff who fall under broad public-interest definitions. The retroactive asylum bar dating to 24 June 2020 also creates urgency for long-term visitors who have not yet filed a refugee claim. Legal counsel recommend conducting an immediate audit of employee status documents and maintaining contingency plans for expedited renewals or status restoration. The legislation still allows Cabinet to define exemptions through regulation, so finer details will emerge only after passage. However, businesses should begin scenario-planning now: identify critical roles held by temporary residents, map alternative work-permit categories, and brief leadership on potential reputational risks if workers lose status en masse. The government has signalled it may introduce a phased implementation, but no timelines are set. With a minority Parliament unlikely to block final approval, Bill C-12 could reshape Canada’s immigration landscape within weeks. Organisations with significant foreign talent pipelines should monitor Senate proceedings closely and prepare to communicate new compliance obligations across HR, travel and legal teams.