A major federal bill linked to immigration and border measures—Bill C-12—has reached a key point in the Senate. This matters because the bill includes proposed legal tools that could affect how immigration applications are processed and how certain immigration documents could be handled in specific situations.
It is important to keep expectations realistic: Bill C-12 is not law yet. Nothing changes unless it passes the remaining steps and receives Royal Assent.
What happened this week
Parliament’s official tracking (LEGISinfo) shows that the Senate committee stage is complete and the committee report was presented without amendment on February 25, 2026.
Where the bill is right now
As of February 27, 2026, LEGISinfo lists Bill C-12 as “At third reading in the Senate.” That means the final Senate vote has not been completed yet.
The Senate’s Order Paper has also listed Bill C-12 for third reading business.
What Bill C-12 could change for immigration (high level)
Bill C-12 is a broad bill, but several parts directly touch immigration rules. In simple terms, the bill proposes new authorities that could allow the Governor in Council to issue orders to:
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Stop accepting certain types of applications, or pause/terminate processing for certain applications (in defined situations).
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Cancel, suspend, or vary immigration documents (including work permits, study permits, temporary resident visas, eTAs, and even PR cards/visas), and impose or vary conditions on some documents.
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Require public reporting to Parliament after an order is made (reasons, how many applications/documents, and which groups are affected).
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Require orders to be published in the Canada Gazette within 23 days.
“Public interest” limits written into the bill
The bill text includes a definition stating an order is consistent with the “public interest” if its purpose is to address matters such as:
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administrative errors
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fraud
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public health
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public safety
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national security
This is one of the key areas senators and stakeholders are watching closely.
Proposed changes to asylum eligibility
Bill C-12 also proposes new ineligibility rules for some refugee claims, including (as written in the bill):
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making a person ineligible if they entered Canada after June 24, 2020 and claimed refugee protection more than one year after entry; and
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making a person ineligible if they entered along the Canada–US land border outside a port of entry and made the claim after the regulatory time limit.
What happens next
In Canada’s federal process, a bill becomes law only after both chambers pass the same text and it receives Royal Assent.
If senators amend Bill C-12 at third reading, it would need to go back to the House of Commons for agreement.
Official government sources (outlinks)
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Bill status (LEGISinfo):
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Full bill text (as passed by the House of Commons):
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Government explainer page on Bill C-12:
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Department of Justice Charter statement page for Bill C-12:
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Office of the Privacy Commissioner comments to Parliament (Bill C-12):
FAQ
Does this cancel work permits or study permits right now?
No. As of February 27, 2026, the bill is still at third reading in the Senate, so it is not law yet.
If the bill becomes law, will everyone be affected?
Not automatically. Many powers described in the bill are tied to orders made for specific situations, and the bill includes reporting requirements to Parliament.
Should applicants change their plans today?
For most people, the practical step is to follow official updates and avoid decisions based only on headlines until the bill’s final status is confirmed on LEGISinfo.
Reality check
Bill C-12 is significant because it proposes tools that could affect processing and documents, but outcomes depend on (1) whether it becomes law, and (2) whether any future orders are made and how narrowly they are applied. If you’re a temporary resident or applicant, keep your records organized and follow official updates—especially if your status depends on ongoing processing.
