Rights advocates, community organizations, and refugee-support groups are sounding the alarm ahead of the upcoming vote on Bill C-12, warning it could significantly weaken Canada’s long-standing refugee protections.

They argue the bill would impose strict one-year deadlines for filing asylum claims, limit access to full hearings and appeals, and redirect many applicants into a risk-assessment process that offers far fewer safeguards.

Critics say the legislation grants sweeping powers to government authorities, including the ability to cancel legal status, collect and share sensitive personal information, and expand enforcement measures with minimal oversight.

Concerns are also growing that the bill has been pushed forward too quickly, without proper consultation with the communities most affected.

According to rights groups, this approach risks creating discrimination, due-process gaps, and unjust removals. As the vote approaches, advocates urge Members of Parliament to reconsider the bill and prioritize a fair, humane, and rights-based asylum system.

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