Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner, who is also the member of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration, is proposing radical changes to the federal government border security and immigration bill, Bill C12.
She pointed out that the immigration system of Canada is under a lot of pressure and it needs to be reformed immediately.
On November 20, Rempel appeared with MP Brad Redekopp to give a broad list of changes to Bill C-12 that the Conservative caucus will introduce, based on increased public concern, the increase in asylum seekers, and the strain on social infrastructure.
Her comments came after months of discussion as to the way forward of the immigrant system in Canada as the federal government undergoes an extreme line of questioning in regards to increased settlement of temporary residents, backlogs in processing and new security based reporting.
Rempel indicated that the Conservatives will champion amendments that emphasize on modernizing the asylum procedures, enhancement and tightening of the borders, redefining criminality levels, and transparency within the federal immigration agencies.
The proposals are timed when immigration is taking a center stage in political matters in Canada and the world at large.
Recent developments in the United Kingdom were cited by Rempel who points out that the recent immigration reforms changed the political landscape and the debate regarding the pressures on asylum intensified.
She claimed that the volume of asylum per capita in Canada now surpasses that of the UK although Canada has a much smaller population.
Conservatives Outline Broad Amendments to Bill C-12
According to Rempel, the Conservative Party will present a package of reforms in a broad way through the appropriate clause by clause review of Bill C12 at the House of Commons committee of national security.
She called the proposed amendments constructive and geared towards correcting long standing operational faults that she claimed has led to deteriorated public trust in the Canadian immigration processes.
Core objectives of the Conservative amendments
Strengthen Canada’s asylum processing system
Reduce incentives for fraudulent or unfounded claims
Update detention, removal, and appeals processes
Modernize criminality and deportation rules
Improve transparency in federal reporting
Address operational gaps within the Immigration and Refugee Board
Reinforce screening and verification procedures
Align eligibility rules and benefits with system capacity
According to Rempel, voters on both sides of the political spectrum have been more worried about the operational pressures present in the system, the increasing number of asylum, and issues to do with security screening.
She claimed that the Conservative plans are aimed at relieving these strains and not those newcomers in particular.
Public Confidence and System Capacity
In the announcement, Rempel indicated that people losing confidence in immigration is something of major concern, citing that several polls indicate the lack of support on the increasing levels of immigration.
She explained this change by the fact that she was not sentimental about immigrants, but rather in frustration with the way the system works.
Key pressures cited by Rempel
Growth in asylum claims and lengthening processing times
Increasing numbers of temporary foreign workers and study permit holders
Rising costs for health and social programs
Challenges in housing affordability and availability
Reports of gaps in security and verification processes
Complex appeal systems that delay final decisions
Difficulties removing individuals with no legal right to remain in Canada
Rempel said these factors collectively contribute to what she described as a system that is “harder to manage, harder to administer, and harder for Canadians to have confidence in.”
Asylum Trends and Backlogs
This increase in the asylum system in Canada was among the major issues that were brought up by Rempel.
The past 10 years have seen a massive growth in the number of asylum claims, which in turn has placed pressure on the system of decision-makers, appeals system and social services.
Factors influencing increased asylum numbers
Individuals crossing the border between official ports of entry and requesting asylum
Refugee claims filed after applicants were rejected in the United States
A surge in claims from certain countries after visa requirements were lifted
Rising numbers of temporary residents requesting asylum while already in Canada
Longer appeal timelines creating additional delays in case resolution
The backlog of asylum in the country has increased to almost 300, 000 in 2024 compared to a figure of less than 10, 000 in 2015.
The process may take over three years before appeals, and federal spending concerning asylum seekers has risen during the time frame.
Rempel opined that such pressures are structural in nature and need change in policies instead of short term solutions.
Proposed Amendments to Reform Asylum Processing
The Conservative caucus will roll out a wide set of amendments that are expected to minimize fraud claims, minimize processing time, and expand capacity to screen out persons who are not entitled to protection.
Proposals affecting eligibility and claims
Preventing individuals who traveled through G7 countries from filing asylum claims in Canada
Expanding verification requirements during the initial screening process
Requiring educational institutions to contribute financially when former international students file unfounded asylum claims
Deeming claims abandoned when individuals return to their home countries while cases remain active
Rejecting claims if an officer determines the claimant provided false or misleading information
Shifting the burden of proof to claimants to show they filed a claim in a timely manner
Requiring claimants to submit full grounds for protection at the outset
The purpose of these measures, as suggested by Rempel, is to offer assistance to the legitimate refugees with the least chance of abuse occurring.
Proposals affecting benefits and supports
Restricting federal benefits for individuals whose asylum claims have been rejected
Limiting support to emergency health care for failed claimants
Increasing oversight of social program expenditures related to asylum claimants
She reported that the federal growth of health care and housing over the past ten years has added to the strain of government programs.
Reforming Asylum Appeals, Reviews, and Federal Reporting
Rempel claimed that the existing appeal and judicial review procedures are multiple-layered and can stretch the schedule considerably and need changes to enhance efficiency levels.
Proposed changes to appeals and oversight
Modernizing appeal structures to reduce duplicative steps
Updating the judicial review process to streamline case handling
Requiring federal departments to provide regular public reports on asylum-related expenditures
Expanding the annual immigration report to Parliament to include new performance and compliance data
The primary role of hearing the asylum claims and other appeals goes to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB).
Miscellaneous, Rempel stated that a number of structural adjustments might be used to facilitate better decision-making and accountability.
Proposed changes to IRB governance and appointments
Modernizing the appointment process to reduce politicization
Ensuring board leadership reflects current immigration trends and provincial demographics
Including candidates with law enforcement or investigative backgrounds among board members
Increasing oversight mechanisms tied to performance benchmarks
She said the IRB’s appointment structure has remained largely unchanged despite shifts in claim volumes and country of origin patterns.
Strengthening Border Security and Criminality Rules
Besides the asylum reforms, Rempel also outlined changes to be made to tighten the regulations on the non-citizens who have committed serious crimes in Canada.
She explained that there is a need to change the current criminality levels and deportation policies to tackle the recent incidents that have been reported in the media.
Key proposals related to serious criminality
Updating the definition of serious criminality to include all indictable offenses
Applying the same standard to hybrid offenses when prosecuted by indictment
Restricting access to repeat pre-removal risk assessments
Allowing additional appeals only when new evidence or changed conditions exist
Modernizing timelines and enforcement structures for removal orders
Rempel cited cases of people who were not deported after sentencing them to less than the level that is considered to provoke compulsory deportation. She indicated that the new amendments would minimize chances of such possibilities.
Addressing concerns about enforcement capacity
Ensuring removal orders are executed within clear timelines
Updating enforcement processes to address operational backlogs
Improving systems for tracking individuals subject to removal
Rempel used the reports that stated that hundreds of people with removal orders were not found, which supported the necessity of new procedures.
Questions About Screening Processes
At the hearing, Rempel was asked regarding the news that asylum seekers were able to self-determine components of their vetting process.
She indicated that Conservative MPs have planned to use future committee meetings to seek further information from the officials and get a clear understanding of how the system is being utilized.
She associated the problem to a different report that persons with connections to overseas terrorist groups might have penetrated Canada stating that such reports opt to bring out the significance of revised screening measures.
Provincial Responses and Intergovernmental Concerns
Rempel was further questioned on whether provincial governments should think of the benefits to be restricted to asylum seekers.
She claimed federal programs are already in need of revision and that Conservative amendments revolve around restriction of federal assistance to emergency health care on the lost claimants.
She mentioned growing prices of programs, such as federal health spending and temporary housing programs, as putting strains on provincial services.
Government Reaction and Outlook
The federal minister of public safety has admitted that Bill C-12 and Bill C-2 have complexities and there might be some need to improve them.
Rempel indicated that she hopes the government is going to take into account the Conservative proposals but added that the added strains on the immigration system in Canada needed to be addressed as soon as possible.
According to her, the amendments will help to curb operational shortcomings and regain the public trust before the bigger discussions of how the level of immigration in Canada would be in future.
Immigration has long formed the backbone of the population and economy development strategy in Canada over decades, and Rempel explained that any long-term strategy should contain plausible processing systems, believable removal, and understandable decision-making frameworks.
She indicated that the proposals would facilitate such an approach by filling existing gaps and addressing concerns that witnesses and other experts and community stakeholders raised.
The committee that researches Bill C-12 will start to review the amendments in the near future, and the discussion is likely to continue with new witnesses coming forward to testify.
New Changes to Immigration Bill C-12 Introduced by Conservative Party
Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner, who is also the member of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration, is proposing radical changes to the federal government border security and immigration bill, Bill C12.
She pointed out that the immigration system of Canada is under a lot of pressure and it needs to be reformed immediately.
On November 20, Rempel appeared with MP Brad Redekopp to give a broad list of changes to Bill C-12 that the Conservative caucus will introduce, based on increased public concern, the increase in asylum seekers, and the strain on social infrastructure.
Her comments came after months of discussion as to the way forward of the immigrant system in Canada as the federal government undergoes an extreme line of questioning in regards to increased settlement of temporary residents, backlogs in processing and new security based reporting.
Rempel indicated that the Conservatives will champion amendments that emphasize on modernizing the asylum procedures, enhancement and tightening of the borders, redefining criminality levels, and transparency within the federal immigration agencies.
The proposals are timed when immigration is taking a center stage in political matters in Canada and the world at large.
Recent developments in the United Kingdom were cited by Rempel who points out that the recent immigration reforms changed the political landscape and the debate regarding the pressures on asylum intensified.
She claimed that the volume of asylum per capita in Canada now surpasses that of the UK although Canada has a much smaller population.
Conservatives Outline Broad Amendments to Bill C-12
According to Rempel, the Conservative Party will present a package of reforms in a broad way through the appropriate clause by clause review of Bill C12 at the House of Commons committee of national security.
She called the proposed amendments constructive and geared towards correcting long standing operational faults that she claimed has led to deteriorated public trust in the Canadian immigration processes.
Core objectives of the Conservative amendments
According to Rempel, voters on both sides of the political spectrum have been more worried about the operational pressures present in the system, the increasing number of asylum, and issues to do with security screening.
She claimed that the Conservative plans are aimed at relieving these strains and not those newcomers in particular.
Public Confidence and System Capacity
In the announcement, Rempel indicated that people losing confidence in immigration is something of major concern, citing that several polls indicate the lack of support on the increasing levels of immigration.
She explained this change by the fact that she was not sentimental about immigrants, but rather in frustration with the way the system works.
Key pressures cited by Rempel
Rempel said these factors collectively contribute to what she described as a system that is “harder to manage, harder to administer, and harder for Canadians to have confidence in.”
Asylum Trends and Backlogs
This increase in the asylum system in Canada was among the major issues that were brought up by Rempel.
The past 10 years have seen a massive growth in the number of asylum claims, which in turn has placed pressure on the system of decision-makers, appeals system and social services.
Factors influencing increased asylum numbers
The backlog of asylum in the country has increased to almost 300, 000 in 2024 compared to a figure of less than 10, 000 in 2015.
The process may take over three years before appeals, and federal spending concerning asylum seekers has risen during the time frame.
Rempel opined that such pressures are structural in nature and need change in policies instead of short term solutions.
Proposed Amendments to Reform Asylum Processing
The Conservative caucus will roll out a wide set of amendments that are expected to minimize fraud claims, minimize processing time, and expand capacity to screen out persons who are not entitled to protection.
Proposals affecting eligibility and claims
The purpose of these measures, as suggested by Rempel, is to offer assistance to the legitimate refugees with the least chance of abuse occurring.
Proposals affecting benefits and supports
She reported that the federal growth of health care and housing over the past ten years has added to the strain of government programs.
Reforming Asylum Appeals, Reviews, and Federal Reporting
Rempel claimed that the existing appeal and judicial review procedures are multiple-layered and can stretch the schedule considerably and need changes to enhance efficiency levels.
Proposed changes to appeals and oversight
The primary role of hearing the asylum claims and other appeals goes to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB).
Miscellaneous, Rempel stated that a number of structural adjustments might be used to facilitate better decision-making and accountability.
Proposed changes to IRB governance and appointments
She said the IRB’s appointment structure has remained largely unchanged despite shifts in claim volumes and country of origin patterns.
Strengthening Border Security and Criminality Rules
Besides the asylum reforms, Rempel also outlined changes to be made to tighten the regulations on the non-citizens who have committed serious crimes in Canada.
She explained that there is a need to change the current criminality levels and deportation policies to tackle the recent incidents that have been reported in the media.
Key proposals related to serious criminality
Rempel cited cases of people who were not deported after sentencing them to less than the level that is considered to provoke compulsory deportation. She indicated that the new amendments would minimize chances of such possibilities.
Addressing concerns about enforcement capacity
Rempel used the reports that stated that hundreds of people with removal orders were not found, which supported the necessity of new procedures.
Questions About Screening Processes
At the hearing, Rempel was asked regarding the news that asylum seekers were able to self-determine components of their vetting process.
She indicated that Conservative MPs have planned to use future committee meetings to seek further information from the officials and get a clear understanding of how the system is being utilized.
She associated the problem to a different report that persons with connections to overseas terrorist groups might have penetrated Canada stating that such reports opt to bring out the significance of revised screening measures.
Provincial Responses and Intergovernmental Concerns
Rempel was further questioned on whether provincial governments should think of the benefits to be restricted to asylum seekers.
She claimed federal programs are already in need of revision and that Conservative amendments revolve around restriction of federal assistance to emergency health care on the lost claimants.
She mentioned growing prices of programs, such as federal health spending and temporary housing programs, as putting strains on provincial services.
Government Reaction and Outlook
The federal minister of public safety has admitted that Bill C-12 and Bill C-2 have complexities and there might be some need to improve them.
Rempel indicated that she hopes the government is going to take into account the Conservative proposals but added that the added strains on the immigration system in Canada needed to be addressed as soon as possible.
According to her, the amendments will help to curb operational shortcomings and regain the public trust before the bigger discussions of how the level of immigration in Canada would be in future.
Immigration has long formed the backbone of the population and economy development strategy in Canada over decades, and Rempel explained that any long-term strategy should contain plausible processing systems, believable removal, and understandable decision-making frameworks.
She indicated that the proposals would facilitate such an approach by filling existing gaps and addressing concerns that witnesses and other experts and community stakeholders raised.
The committee that researches Bill C-12 will start to review the amendments in the near future, and the discussion is likely to continue with new witnesses coming forward to testify.
Author: Shubham
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