February 25, 2026

Mario Bellissimo Analyzes Bill C‑12 as Senate Nears Final Reading

Canada’s proposed immigration overhaul, Bill C-12, is moving toward final Senate approval despite pointed concerns raised during committee review and by leading members of the bar. As reported by Law360 Canada, a Senate committee advanced the bill without amendment, even after another Senate committee recommended removing key immigration provisions over constitutional and rule-of-law concerns. The debate centres on far-reaching measures that would expand executive discretion, introduce new refugee ineligibility rules, and broaden information-sharing powers across jurisdictions. Critics caution that certain provisions including authority to cancel entire classes of immigration applications in the “public interest” and tighter timelines affecting refugee claimants risk creating legal uncertainty, limiting procedural safeguards, and triggering constitutional challenges.  Concerns raised before the Senate include the potential for discriminatory or overly broad use of discretionary powers, retroactive refugee ineligibility measures, and privacy implications tied to expanded data-sharing regimes

Mr. Bellissimo has warned that while reform may be necessary to address backlogs and system pressures, measures that undermine fairness and accountability could ultimately weaken, rather than strengthen, Canada’s immigration framework.  As Bill C-12 proceeds to third reading, the focus now shifts to whether final debate will address these rule-of-law concerns and ensure that reforms remain consistent with Canada’s constitutional principles and humanitarian commitments.

Read the full Law360 coverage here: Senators greenlight immigration overhaul despite Senate study echoing bar’s objections – Law360 Canada