Canada’s Strong Borders Act to combat organized crime, curb illegal fentanyl; what changes in immigration policy with Bill C-2

The Canadian government introduced Bill C-2, known as the Strong Borders Act, on June 3, 2025. This legislation will give the government more power to protect Canada's sovereignty, strengthen its border, and reform the asylum system. Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree announced that the bill seeks to provide law enforcement with additional tools to secure borders, combat transnational organized crime, and address the flow of illegal fentanyl and money laundering activities.

Beyond immigration reforms, Bill C-2 aims to strengthen Canada's border security infrastructure. Provisions include amending the Oceans Act to expand the Canadian Coast Guard’s services for enhanced sovereignty and maritime domain awareness, particularly in remote Arctic waters.

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This expansion would enable the Coast Guard to conduct security patrols and collect, analyze, and share information and intelligence for security purposes.

Key provisions of Bill C-2

The proposed legislation introduces some major changes to asylum eligibility:

• Time Limit on Asylum Claims: Foreign nationals who entered Canada after June 24, 2020, and file an asylum claim more than one year after their entry would be deemed ineligible for refugee protection.
  
  
  
• Irregular Border Crossings: Individuals crossing the Canada-U.S. land border outside official ports of entry would no longer benefit from the current 14-day grace period to file asylum claims. Such entries would render claimants automatically ineligible.
  
  
  

Additionally, the bill grants the federal cabinet expanded powers to:

• Refuse specific immigration applications.
  
  
  
• Suspend or terminate application processing.
  
  
  
• Cancel or modify immigration documents.
  
  
  
• Impose new conditions on immigration status or travel permits.
  
  

The legislation also broadens the authority to share personal information across government departments and increases the power to summon individuals for examination by immigration officials.

Political context and reactions

The introduction of Bill C-2 comes amid heightened political pressure to address border security and the increasing number of asylum claims in recent years. The government said that the bill is designed to protect the integrity of Canada's immigration system while ensuring public safety.

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However, opposition expresses concern that the bill's retroactive measures could violate international refugee obligations and disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. Human rights advocates argue that limiting claims based on time and entry methods could put genuine asylum seekers at risk.

Bill C-2 will proceed through the legislative process, undergoing three readings in both the House of Commons and the Senate, followed by royal assent before becoming law. Given its retroactive provisions, the bill's impact could be immediate upon enactment.