Updated on November 20, 2025, 5:23 PM EST (Toronto Time)
Conservative Member of Parliament Michelle Rempel Garner, a member of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration, is advocating for significant changes to the federal government’s border security and immigration legislation, Bill C12.
She emphasized the strain on Canada’s immigration system and the need for immediate structural adjustments.
Speaking with MP Brad Redekopp on November 20, Rempel presented a comprehensive list of modifications to Bill C-12 that the Conservative caucus plans to propose, in response to escalating public worries, increasing asylum figures, and strains on social services.
These suggestions come after a prolonged debate on the future of Canada’s immigration system, as the government grapples with mounting temporary resident entries, operational backlogs, and recent security assessments.
Rempel specified that the Conservative Party will advocate for changes focusing on enhancing asylum procedures, strengthening border controls, redefining criminal thresholds, and enhancing transparency among federal immigration agencies.
These proposed amendments coincide with a period where immigration has become a pivotal political subject in Canada and worldwide, with Rempel citing the UK’s immigration policy modifications that have reshaped the political arena and intensified discussions on asylum pressures.
Rempel highlighted that Canada’s per capita asylum numbers now surpass those of the UK, despite Canada having a significantly smaller population.
Conservative Party’s Proposed Changes to Bill C-12
Rempel announced that the Conservative Party is set to introduce a comprehensive reform package during the upcoming review of Bill C-12 at the House of Commons committee on national security.
She described the proposed adjustments as proactive and designed to tackle persistent operational challenges that have contributed to a decline in public confidence in Canada’s immigration system.
Core Goals of the Conservative Amendments
- Enhance Canada’s asylum processing system
- Minimize incentives for fraudulent or baseless claims
- Modernize criminality and deportation regulations
- Improve transparency in federal reporting
- Address deficiencies within the Immigration and Refugee Board
- Strengthen screening and verification procedures
- Align eligibility criteria and benefits with system capacity
Rempel noted that concerns about operational stresses, escalating asylum figures, and security screening issues have been mounting among voters across the political spectrum. The Conservative proposals aim to alleviate these concerns without targeting newcomers themselves.
Public Trust and System Capability
Rempel expressed worry over the dwindling public trust in the immigration system, citing various surveys indicating diminishing support for increased immigration levels. She attributed this shift to frustrations with the system’s functionality rather than sentiments towards immigrants.
She identified key pressures including a surge in asylum claims, extended processing times, growing temporary foreign worker and study permit numbers, increased costs for public programs, housing affordability challenges, security and verification gaps, delayed appeal systems, and difficulties in deporting individuals lacking legal status in Canada.
Rempel argued that these factors collectively contribute to a system that is increasingly complex to manage, administer, and for Canadians to have confidence in.
Asylum Trends and Backlogs
Rempel expressed particular concern over the expansion of Canada’s asylum system. Over the past decade, the volume of asylum applications has substantially increased, creating additional pressures on decision-makers, the appeals process, and social services.
Factors influencing the rise in asylum numbers include individuals crossing the border at unofficial entry points to seek asylum, refugee claims from individuals rejected in the US, a spike in claims from certain countries after visa requirements were lifted, an increase in asylum requests from temporary residents already in Canada, and prolonged appeal timelines leading to delays in case resolutions.
The asylum backlog has surged from under 10,000 cases in 2015 to nearly 300,000 cases by 2024.
