On June 17, 2025, the federal government of Canada announced details of the Strong Borders Act, an overhaul of the country's immigration system. The bill was first introduced by the Honorable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety, in early June and is designed to address the abuse of the system by temporary residents and the backlog of refugee claims.
The announcement includes increased government control over visa and permit documentation, streamlined information sharing between domestic agencies, improvements to the refugee screening process, and the introduction of new refugee claim limits.
In the future, the government will have the power to revoke, suspend, or modify visas, electronic travel authorizations (eTAs), work permits, and study permits based on the public interest in order to respond more flexibly to a variety of situations, including natural disasters, rapid changes in international affairs, public health and security crises, and abuse of the welfare system. The public interest is broadly defined in the law to allow for flexible responses, and a high-level oversight system is in place to ensure that this power is exercised by decision of the federal cabinet. However, it is important to note that these actions will not result in the immediate withdrawal of residency status, which will require a separate process under existing legislation.
In addition, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is making changes to the legislation to make information sharing with domestic partners, including federal, provincial and territorial governments, more systematic and efficient. Information will now be shared directly between legally authorized agencies without the need for repeated pre-screening, and all information will be compliant with Canada's privacy laws. Provincial and territorial governments will also be required to obtain prior IRCC authorization to share information with foreign governments, ensuring both international accountability and transparency.
The refugee screening system will also be overhauled. People will be able to apply online in the same way, whether at the border or at an in-country IRCC office, and completed applications will be fast-tracked to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB). Most notably, people will only be able to get an IRB hearing if they are physically present in Canada, to prevent abuse of the system. If an applicant voluntarily withdraws their application, the departure order will be effective immediately, and inactive applications will be automatically cleared to reduce backlogs in the system. For those who are unable to handle the process alone, such as minors, a representative will be appointed through the IRCC or CBSA to ensure that they are protected.
There are also new restrictions to prevent abuse of the refugee claim system. For starters, people who entered Canada after June 24, 2020, will be barred from going to the IRB if they file a refugee claim more than a year later. Also, people who entered Canada through an informal route rather than a formal border crossing will similarly be ineligible for a hearing if they do not file a refugee claim within 14 days. However, in both of these cases, the pathway to claim persecution and apply for protection through the Preliminary Risk of Removal Assessment (PRRA) remains open.
The reforms do not appear to be intended to unilaterally restrict the immigration system, but rather reflect the government's intention to improve the legitimacy and efficiency of the system and to restructure it so that faster and more accurate decisions can be made for those who actually need protection. The government has stated its intention to continue to monitor the impact of the legislation after it is passed, and to take further steps to improve its acceptability and effectiveness through close consultation with state governments and civil society organizations.
The Strong Borders Act is more than just a control device; it is the government's response to rebuild trust in the system and increase its effectiveness. However, it remains to be seen how the new powers and procedures will be applied in practice, especially as the public interest test and changes to asylum requirements will be subject to different interpretations and operationalizations. Managing borders is not just about setting boundaries, it's also about demonstrating the values and principles of a society. It will be interesting to see what direction Canada chooses to take with this reform.
On June 17, 2025, the federal government of Canada announced details of the Strong Borders Act, an overhaul of the country's immigration system. The bill was first introduced by the Honorable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety, in early June and is designed to address the abuse of the system by temporary residents and the backlog of refugee claims.
The announcement includes increased government control over visa and permit documentation, streamlined information sharing between domestic agencies, improvements to the refugee screening process, and the introduction of new refugee claim limits.
In the future, the government will have the power to revoke, suspend, or modify visas, electronic travel authorizations (eTAs), work permits, and study permits based on the public interest in order to respond more flexibly to a variety of situations, including natural disasters, rapid changes in international affairs, public health and security crises, and abuse of the welfare system. The public interest is broadly defined in the law to allow for flexible responses, and a high-level oversight system is in place to ensure that this power is exercised by decision of the federal cabinet. However, it is important to note that these actions will not result in the immediate withdrawal of residency status, which will require a separate process under existing legislation.
In addition, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is making changes to the legislation to make information sharing with domestic partners, including federal, provincial and territorial governments, more systematic and efficient. Information will now be shared directly between legally authorized agencies without the need for repeated pre-screening, and all information will be compliant with Canada's privacy laws. Provincial and territorial governments will also be required to obtain prior IRCC authorization to share information with foreign governments, ensuring both international accountability and transparency.
The refugee screening system will also be overhauled. People will be able to apply online in the same way, whether at the border or at an in-country IRCC office, and completed applications will be fast-tracked to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB). Most notably, people will only be able to get an IRB hearing if they are physically present in Canada, to prevent abuse of the system. If an applicant voluntarily withdraws their application, the departure order will be effective immediately, and inactive applications will be automatically cleared to reduce backlogs in the system. For those who are unable to handle the process alone, such as minors, a representative will be appointed through the IRCC or CBSA to ensure that they are protected.
There are also new restrictions to prevent abuse of the refugee claim system. For starters, people who entered Canada after June 24, 2020, will be barred from going to the IRB if they file a refugee claim more than a year later. Also, people who entered Canada through an informal route rather than a formal border crossing will similarly be ineligible for a hearing if they do not file a refugee claim within 14 days. However, in both of these cases, the pathway to claim persecution and apply for protection through the Preliminary Risk of Removal Assessment (PRRA) remains open.
The reforms do not appear to be intended to unilaterally restrict the immigration system, but rather reflect the government's intention to improve the legitimacy and efficiency of the system and to restructure it so that faster and more accurate decisions can be made for those who actually need protection. The government has stated its intention to continue to monitor the impact of the legislation after it is passed, and to take further steps to improve its acceptability and effectiveness through close consultation with state governments and civil society organizations.
The Strong Borders Act is more than just a control device; it is the government's response to rebuild trust in the system and increase its effectiveness. However, it remains to be seen how the new powers and procedures will be applied in practice, especially as the public interest test and changes to asylum requirements will be subject to different interpretations and operationalizations. Managing borders is not just about setting boundaries, it's also about demonstrating the values and principles of a society. It will be interesting to see what direction Canada chooses to take with this reform.