FCJ Refugee Centre has submitted a brief to both the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security (SECU), and the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration (CIMM), at the House of Commons, recommending the withdrawn of Bill C-12 in its current form.

Bill C-12 is the successor to Bill C-2, the original so-called “Strong Borders Act,” which was introduced in June by the federal government. Bill C-2 was rejected by over 300 organizations from across Canada, including FCJ Refugee Centre, for whom this initiative posed a threat to human rights, refugee and migrant rights, and privacy of all residents of Canada.

Last month, the federal government decided to split the bill, hoping to get some of the border protection measures through Parliament and into law more quickly. The new legislation removes elements out of the old bill, including provisions around the immigration and refugee system, and put them into what’s now been introduced as Bill C-12.

The lawful access measures, which would give authorities more access to personal information, and triggered privacy concerns, remain in what’s left of Bill C-2.

The bills are now moving on two separate legislative tracks, with Bill C-12 going first.

Below is the full brief submitted by FCJ Refugee Centre to the SECU and the CIMM.

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Read also: Bill C-2 Threatens Human Rights, Refugee and Migrant Rights, and Privacy of All Residents of Canada