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Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
What is Canada's new immigration bill? Fentanyl flow and border security addressed; to boost 'integrity' of country's immigration system
Canadian PM Mark Carney The Canadian government proposed a new bill aimed at tightening the country's immigration system and expanding law enforcement powers. Known as the Strong Borders Act, the legislation would restrict some asylum claims and allow authorities to pause immigration processing in certain circumstances. The proposal comes as Canada faces mounting pressure to reduce immigration levels, with public services under strain and a national housing shortage worsening. Canadian prime minister Mark Carney, who took office after winning April's election, has vowed to address what he called 'unsustainable' immigration numbers. One major provision in the bill would bar individuals from applying for asylum if they have been in Canada for over a year, making them eligible for deportation. It would also grant police increased power to monitor the border shared with the US. Part of the bill targets the cross-border flow of fentanyl and illegal weapons, issues that have created friction with the US in recent years. Under current law, people can claim asylum in Canada regardless of how long they've been in the country. The new bill would change that, also requiring asylum seekers entering from the US under the safe third country agreement to apply for protection within 14 days. Even if a claim is rejected due to timing, applicants would still be eligible for a risk assessment to determine whether returning them to their home country would pose a danger. The 127-page bill also proposes expanded powers for authorities to open and inspect mail during criminal investigations, and would introduce new financial restrictions, such as banning cash transactions over Canadian $10,000 and large cash deposits into another person's account. Immigration minister Lena Diab said the bill is designed to combat organised crime and reduce the flow of illegal drugs and weapons. She added that the proposed changes would help preserve the "integrity" of Canada's immigration system. Critics say the proposed measures threaten civil liberties. Jenny Kwan, a lawmaker with the New Democratic Party, warned that the bill 'should be alarming to many Canadians.' Advocacy group, Migrant Rights Network also condemned the legislation, calling it "immoral" and accusing the government of preparing for "mass deportations."
Saudi Gazette
a day ago
- Business
- Saudi Gazette
Canada proposes sweeping immigration and security bill
TORONTO — The Canadian government has proposed a bill to restrict some asylum claims and give authorities more power to halt the processing of immigration applications. Canada's immigration minister Lena Diab said the Strong Borders Act is meant to curb organised crime and the flow of illegal drugs and weapons, while boosting the "integrity" of the country's immigration system. It includes provisions that would give police more power to monitor Canada's shared border with the US. It could also bar those who have been in Canada for more than year from filing a claim for asylum. But critics said the bill, which seeks to expand authorities' ability to open and inspect mail, would breach civil liberties. The proposed legislation comes amid increasing pressure on Canada, which has historically been open to newcomers, to restrict immigration as the country deals with strained public services and a housing crisis. The previous government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau relied on ambitious immigration targets to fuel economic growth, and oversaw a sharp increase in people entering Canada as temporary workers and students. At the same time, Canada saw a spike in asylum claims, with applicants waiting up to two years for their case to be heard due to the backlog. Prime Minister Mark Carney, who won April's federal election, has promised to address Canada's "unsustainable" immigration levels. Under current law, refugees can claim asylum in Canada either when they arrive at a port of entry, like an airport, or when they are already in Canada, with no restrictions on how long they can be in the country before claiming asylum. The new rules would bar asylum claims from those who have been in Canada for over a year, potentially making them subject to deportation. They would also require people entering Canada from the US under the Safe Third Country Agreement — a long-standing deal requiring migrants to seek asylum in the first "safe" country they reach, whether it is the US or Canada — to file a claim in Canada within 14 days for it to be considered. Those who fail to adhere to those deadlines would still be able to undergo a risk assessment that would determine whether their safety is at risk if they are sent away. The law also gives the government power to outright suspend processing new applications "for matters of public health and national security." The wide-ranging 127-page measure would also expand the government's power to open mail to advance a criminal investigation. And it would introduce restrictions on cash transactions above C$10,000 ($7,300; £5,400) and cash deposits by one individual into another's account. Jenny Kwan, a member of parliament from the left-leaning New Democratic Party, said the bill "should be alarming to many Canadians". A big chunk of the new legislation deals with curbing the flow of fentanyl and illegal weapons across the US-Canada border - an issue that US President Donald Trump has used as justification for his tariffs on Canada. Gary Anandasangaree, Canada's public safety minister, said he would brief US border tsar Tom Homan on the new legislation. He acknowledged that the law would address issues that have been "irritants for the US", and that it would likely play into trade negotiations between Canada and the US. But he added "it's not exclusively about the United States", and is also about securing Canada's borders. Some advocacy groups have criticized the new rules. The Migrant Rights Network called the proposed measures "immoral", and said they "drastically restrict refugee protections and allow for mass deportations". — BBC
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Canada proposes sweeping immigration and security bill
The Canadian government has proposed a bill to restrict some asylum claims and give authorities more power to halt the processing of immigration applications. Canada's immigration minister Lena Diab said the Strong Borders Act is meant to curb organised crime and the flow of illegal drugs and weapons, while boosting the "integrity" of the country's immigration system. It includes provisions that would give police more power to monitor Canada's shared border with the US. It could also bar those who have been in Canada for more than year from filing a claim for asylum. But critics said the bill, which seeks to expand authorities' ability to open and inspect mail, would breach civil liberties. The proposed legislation comes amid increasing pressure on Canada, which has historically been open to newcomers, to restrict immigration as the country deals with strained public services and a housing crisis. The previous government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau relied on ambitious immigration targets to fuel economic growth, and oversaw a sharp increase in people entering Canada as temporary workers and students. At the same time, Canada saw a spike in asylum claims, with applicants waiting up to two years for their case to be heard due to the backlog. Prime Minister Mark Carney, who won April's federal election, has promised to address Canada's "unsustainable" immigration levels. Under current law, refugees can claim asylum in Canada either when they arrive at a port of entry, like an airport, or when they are already in Canada, with no restrictions on how long they can be in the country before claiming asylum. The new rules would bar asylum claims from those who have been in Canada for over a year, potentially making them subject to deportation. They would also require people entering Canada from the US under the Safe Third Country Agreement - a long-standing deal requiring migrants to seek asylum in the first "safe" country they reach, whether it is the US or Canada - to file a claim in Canada within 14 days for it to be considered. Those who fail to adhere to those deadlines would still be able to undergo a risk assessment that would determine whether their safety is at risk if they are sent away. The law also gives the government power to outright suspend processing new applications "for matters of public health and national security." The wide-ranging 127-page measure would also expand the government's power to open mail to advance a criminal investigation. And it would introduce restrictions on cash transactions above C$10,000 ($7,300; £5,400) and cash deposits by one individual into another's account. Jenny Kwan, a member of parliament from the left-leaning New Democratic Party, said the bill "should be alarming to many Canadians". A big chunk of the new legislation deals with curbing the flow of fentanyl and illegal weapons across the US-Canada border - an issue that US President Donald Trump has used as justification for his tariffs on Canada. Gary Anandasangaree, Canada's public safety minister, said he would brief US border tsar Tom Homan on the new legislation. He acknowledged that the law would address issues that have been "irritants for the US", and that it would likely play into trade negotiations between Canada and the US. But he added "it's not exclusively about the United States", and is also about securing Canada's borders. Some advocacy groups have criticised the new rules. The Migrant Rights Network called the proposed measures "immoral", and said they "drastically restrict refugee protections and allow for mass deportations". Fleeing US deportations, it took this family three tries to enter Canada How Canada soured on immigration Trudeau announces sharp cuts to Canada's immigration targets
Hamilton Spectator
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Hunt for new NDP leader raises tension before race even begins
OTTAWA—On the heels of a devastating election campaign, the New Democratic Party's road to recovery is off to a tense start as party insiders and grassroots activists tilt behind the scenes over the party's next big challenge: Who will replace Jagmeet Singh? Potential high-profile candidates have signalled a lack of interest and the process of even deciding how to orchestrate a leadership contest is already divisive. Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante was being strongly pushed to launch a bid for the job and was widely seen as a big name that can unite the party, but is no longer considering a run. On a recent podcast, Plante, who's term as Montreal mayor ends in November, was asked if she was ready to announce her candidacy for NDP leader, and joked in French that she 'can announce that I won't be the leader of the NDP.' A source close to Plante, who was granted anonymity to speak freely, said she was not ruling out an entrance to federal politics in the future, but needed a break from politics after eight years as mayor. The NDP's federal council is expected to discuss and decide the rules of that race in late June, according to an email from NDP national director Lucy Watson sent to party members Wednesday and obtained by the Star. But questions over the timeline of the race, the entry fee, and how much power each vote should hold have been a source of contention among New Democrats. A letter circulating among party members, started by a group of local EDAs, is urging federal council not to rush the process to decide the rules, to have an admission fee that does not 'preclude working class people from entering the race,' to allow a membership sign-up deadline of more than five months during the race, and to commit to a 'one-member-one-vote' principle. It came after media reports that quoted party insiders suggesting a short race with an entry fee five times higher than the $30,000 required in the 2017 race. Already, the process to select interim leader Don Davies has caused some divisions in the party. 'We cannot have a coronation happen. We cannot have a process where internal party movers and shakers, the consulting class, define the terms, create barriers and effectively squeeze out the ability for a very robust process,' said Matthew Green, the former Hamilton Centre MP, as he echoed some of the calls in the letter. 'If this process lacks legitimacy, I think the party puts itself at risk.' All this politicking comes as the race to replace Singh shrinks. It's a highly-anticipated contest that some have said will be a battle for 'the soul of the party.' Aside from Plante, former MP Charlie Angus, another big name in New Democratic circles and the runner-up in 2017, declared recently he had no plans to enter the race. As did former Toronto city councillor Mike Layton and Public Service Alliance of Canada vice-president Alex Silas when reached by the Star. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew and B.C. Premier David Eby have also thrown cold water on any speculation they were interested in the job, though none of those three high-profile New Democrats were ever considered likely contenders. Former Alberta NDP premier Rachel Notley has not expressed any interest in returning to politics and campaigned for Edmonton MP Heather McPherson, who is widely expected to run for leader, during her successful re-election bid. Notley did not return a request for comment. Another name in the rumour mill is Green, who told the Star Thursday he is not ruling anything out and is willing to support the 'right candidate.' But the former MP also dampened expectations among some New Democrats after telling this newspaper recently he believes the next leader should be a 'strong woman.' Some New Democrats see that as an endorsement of Winnipeg MP Leah Gazan, one of the remaining seven New Democrats in Parliament and an influential voice on the left-wing of the party who has not ruled out a run. 'It matters less to me who the next leader is, if the next leader is simply going to duplicate all the past mistakes and personnel of the status quo that got us here in the first place,' Green said Thursday. 'The leadership talk is premature, absent of a really serious discussion around party renewal to ensure that there's a party to run.' Aside from Green, McPherson, Gazan and longtime activist and filmmaker Avi Lewis appear to be the most likely candidates as of now, though no one has made an official announcement and it's typical for other candidates to emerge. 'It's shaping up to be a battle between an establishment candidate and a left-wing candidate, and everybody is wondering who the left-wing candidate is gonna be,' said one NDP source, who the Star agreed not to name so they could speak freely about the party. 'The field is thinning, but I don't think it's going to end there.' Lewis, a two-time NDP candidate who's the grandson of former federal NDP leader David Lewis and son of former Ontario NDP leader Stephen Lewis, was an author of the Leap Manifesto, a 2015 policy document pushing for aggressive climate action and other left-wing priorities that led to contentious debates in the NDP. He has also publicly warned against 'former staffers, consultants, former provincial cabinet ministers,' he accused of trying to shape the race before it starts. 'This is a battle for the soul of the party that has made Canada different from the US,' Lewis said in a recent social media post. 'This is a party that was born of the 99%, and will start winning when it belongs to all of us once again.' McPherson told the Star Thursday that suggestions she is 'the establishment candidate' are 'absurd.' She has yet to commit to running for leader, but said she is being encouraged to run and needs to see what the race looks like before making a decision. 'I'm a New Democrat, but I am a New Democrat from Alberta,' McPherson said. 'I'm more interested in policies that candidates bring forward.' Asked about the leadership race rules, McPherson said she won't interfere because it's up to the federal council, not MPs, to decide. George Soule, a longtime New Democrat strategist, said he understands arguments for a longer, less costly race, but noted the Liberal party had a successful three-month race in electing leader Mark Carney. 'Other parties make money off their leaders' races, we lose money,' Soule said. 'I don't know what that balanced number is.' Watson, the NDP's national director, provided few details about what comes next for the party in its hunt for a new leader, saying, 'We look forward to a dynamic race with an exchange of ideas between candidates and party members about the NDP's path forward.' David Lewis was the former federal NDP leader and Stephen Lewis is the former Ontario NDP leader. A previous version of this story mistakenly swapped the leadership titles of the two.
Toronto Star
4 days ago
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Hunt for new NDP leader raises tension before race even begins
OTTAWA—On the heels of a devastating election campaign, the New Democratic Party's road to recovery is off to a tense start as party insiders and grassroots activists tilt behind the scenes over the party's next big challenge: Who will replace Jagmeet Singh? Potential high-profile candidates have signalled a lack of interest and the process of even deciding how to orchestrate a leadership contest is already divisive. Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante was being strongly pushed to launch a bid for the job and was widely seen as a big name that can unite the party, but is no longer considering a run. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW On a recent podcast, Plante, who's term as Montreal mayor ends in November, was asked if she was ready to announce her candidacy for NDP leader, and joked in French that she 'can announce that I won't be the leader of the NDP.' A source close to Plante, who was granted anonymity to speak freely, said she was not ruling out an entrance to federal politics in the future, but needed a break from politics after eight years as mayor. The NDP's federal council is expected to discuss and decide the rules of that race in late June, according to an email from NDP national director Lucy Watson sent to party members Wednesday and obtained by the Star. But questions over the timeline of the race, the entry fee, and how much power each vote should hold have been a source of contention among New Democrats. A letter circulating among party members, started by a group of local EDAs, is urging federal council not to rush the process to decide the rules, to have an admission fee that does not 'preclude working class people from entering the race,' to allow a membership sign-up deadline of more than five months during the race, and to commit to a 'one-member-one-vote' principle. It came after media reports that quoted party insiders suggesting a short race with an entry fee five times higher than the $30,000 required in the 2017 race. Already, the process to select interim leader Don Davies has caused some divisions in the party. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'We cannot have a coronation happen. We cannot have a process where internal party movers and shakers, the consulting class, define the terms, create barriers and effectively squeeze out the ability for a very robust process,' said Matthew Green, the former Hamilton Centre MP, as he echoed some of the calls in the letter. 'If this process lacks legitimacy, I think the party puts itself at risk.' All this politicking comes as the race to replace Singh shrinks. It's a highly-anticipated contest that some have said will be a battle for 'the soul of the party.' Aside from Plante, former MP Charlie Angus, another big name in New Democratic circles and the runner-up in 2017, declared recently he had no plans to enter the race. As did former Toronto city councillor Mike Layton and Public Service Alliance of Canada vice-president Alex Silas when reached by the Star. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew and B.C. Premier David Eby have also thrown cold water on any speculation they were interested in the job, though none of those three high-profile New Democrats were ever considered likely contenders. Former Alberta NDP premier Rachel Notley has not expressed any interest in returning to politics and campaigned for Edmonton MP Heather McPherson, who is widely expected to run for leader, during her successful re-election bid. Notley did not return a request for comment. Another name in the rumour mill is Green, who told the Star Thursday he is not ruling anything out and is willing to support the 'right candidate.' But the former MP also dampened expectations among some New Democrats after telling this newspaper recently he believes the next leader should be a 'strong woman.' Some New Democrats see that as an endorsement of Winnipeg MP Leah Gazan, one of the remaining seven New Democrats in Parliament and an influential voice on the left-wing of the party who has not ruled out a run. 'It matters less to me who the next leader is, if the next leader is simply going to duplicate all the past mistakes and personnel of the status quo that got us here in the first place,' Green said Thursday. 'The leadership talk is premature, absent of a really serious discussion around party renewal to ensure that there's a party to run.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Aside from Green, McPherson, Gazan and longtime activist and filmmaker Avi Lewis appear to be the most likely candidates as of now, though no one has made an official announcement and it's typical for other candidates to emerge. 'It's shaping up to be a battle between an establishment candidate and a left-wing candidate, and everybody is wondering who the left-wing candidate is gonna be,' said one NDP source, who the Star agreed not to name so they could speak freely about the party. 'The field is thinning, but I don't think it's going to end there.' Lewis, a two-time NDP candidate who's the grandson of former federal NDP leader David Lewis and son of former Ontario NDP leader Stephen Lewis, was an author of the Leap Manifesto, a 2015 policy document pushing for aggressive climate action and other left-wing priorities that led to contentious debates in the NDP. He has also publicly warned against 'former staffers, consultants, former provincial cabinet ministers,' he accused of trying to shape the race before it starts. 'This is a battle for the soul of the party that has made Canada different from the US,' Lewis said in a recent social media post. 'This is a party that was born of the 99%, and will start winning when it belongs to all of us once again.' McPherson told the Star Thursday that suggestions she is 'the establishment candidate' are 'absurd.' She has yet to commit to running for leader, but said she is being encouraged to run and needs to see what the race looks like before making a decision. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'I'm a New Democrat, but I am a New Democrat from Alberta,' McPherson said. 'I'm more interested in policies that candidates bring forward.' Asked about the leadership race rules, McPherson said she won't interfere because it's up to the federal council, not MPs, to decide. George Soule, a longtime New Democrat strategist, said he understands arguments for a longer, less costly race, but noted the Liberal party had a successful three-month race in electing leader Mark Carney. 'Other parties make money off their leaders' races, we lose money,' Soule said. 'I don't know what that balanced number is.' Watson, the NDP's national director, provided few details about what comes next for the party in its hunt for a new leader, saying, 'We look forward to a dynamic race with an exchange of ideas between candidates and party members about the NDP's path forward.' Correction — May 31, 2025: David Lewis was the former federal NDP leader and Stephen Lewis is the former Ontario NDP leader. A previous version of this story mistakenly swapped the leadership titles of the two. Politics Headlines Newsletter Get the latest news and unmatched insights in your inbox every evening Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. Please enter a valid email address. Sign Up Yes, I'd also like to receive customized content suggestions and promotional messages from the Star. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. 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