Toronto//CMEDIA: New legislation reportedly has been introduced Tuesday by Canada’s Liberal government to protect Canada’s sovereignty, strengthen the border and keep Canadians safe.
To give increased powers to Canada’s security and intelligence services, Bill C-2, the Strong Borders Act, would serve to expand the ability to open and inspect mail and allow officials to cancel or suspend immigration documents.
Proposing changes to a number of laws, the legislation includes the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the Oceans Act, the Sex Offender Information Registration Act, the Criminal Code and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act, among others.
“We need to ensure Canada’s law enforcement is equipped with the tools…essential to maintaining the safety and security of our country … it is also a priority that we share with our neighbours,” Minister of Public Safety Gary Anandasangaree reportedly said in Ottawa Tuesday.
Bill C-2, known as the Strong Borders Act, strikes the right balance between expanding the powers of border agents and police officers, while also protecting the individual rights of Canadians, Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said.
Empowering the government with increased power over immigration documents in cases where public health or national security are at risk, Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said that it allows officials to cancel, suspend or change immigration documents immediately, pause the acceptance of new applications and cancel applications already in process if deemed in the public interest.
The changes also facilitate Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to share information more widely with different agencies within Canada.
Claims of Asylum would also have to be made within a year of entering the country, including for students and temporary residents.
While also requiring irregular border crossers, the immigration changes would allow people who enter Canada between official ports of entry, to make an asylum claim within 14 days of arriving in Canada.
Voluntary departures would speed up by The changes by making removal orders effective the same day an asylum claim is withdrawn.
In January a national emergency was declared in the United States by the U.S. Pres Donald Trump aa an excuse to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico over what he said was an untenable flow of migrants and fentanyl into the United States,
The Liberal government has since worked to persuade the Trump administration that Canada is acting to stem the southbound flow of drugs and migrants.
Anandasangaree said Tuesday that Bill C-2 was drafted to contain “elements that will strengthen the relationship” between Canada and the U.S.
“There are a number of items in the bill that have been irritants for the U.S. so we are addressing some of those issues,” he said. “But it’s not exclusively about the United States.”
The throne speech promised legislation to bolster security at Canada’s borders and new tools for police and intelligence agencies to help them stop the flow of fentanyl and its precursors.
While Fulfilling the pledge by proposing to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and the Cannabis Act, The Strong Borders Act would also allow more control of chemicals used to make illegal drugs like fentanyl.
“This will allow law and border enforcement agencies to take swift action to prevent their illegal importation and use, and to ensure strict federal oversight over any legitimate use of these chemicals,” the Public Safety Ministry said in a statement.
New role for the coast guard
Bill C-2 proposes to give the Canadian Coast Guard an active surveillance and security role to amend the Oceans Act and conduct “security activities” designed to “strengthen sovereignty and maritime domain awareness, particularly in remote Arctic waters.”
These changes to the Canadian Coast Guard would allow the agency to “collect, analyze and share information and intelligence for security purposes.”
Also amending the Canadian Security Intelligence Service Act, the Customs Act and the Criminal Code The bill would also serve to improve intelligence and law enforcement agencies’ ability to access information.
Other measures in Bill C-2 include:
Amending the Canada Post Corporation Act to remove barriers for police from searching mail when authorized to do so in the course of a criminal investigation.
Ensuring electronic service providers that hold subscription information, retain data so it can be lawfully provided to law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
Amending the Sex Offender Information Registration Act to allow the Mounties to share information with international partners.
Strengthening enforcement and penalties to Crack down on money laundering and restricting cash transactions over $10,000 and cash deposits by one individual into another’s account.
