Ottawa, Ontario
The Government of Canada is firmly committed to doing whatever it takes to keep our border secure.
On March 26, 2026, the Strengthening Canada's Immigration System and Borders Act (Bill C-12), received Royal Assent, strengthening our immigration and asylum systems and providing law enforcement agencies with more tools to keep our borders secure, combat transnational organized crime, illegal fentanyl, and illicit financing.
The Strengthening Canada's Immigration System and Borders Act:
- Improves asylum claim processing and introduces new ineligibility rules to protect the asylum system against sudden increases in claims. In addition, it introduces new tools to manage immigration documents and related applications and improves how Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) shares information domestically.
- Strengthens the Canada Border Services Agency's (CBSA) ability to examine goods that are destined for export, to match authorities already available for imported goods.
- Allows the Canadian Coast Guard to conduct security patrols and collect, analyze and disseminate information and intelligence for security purposes.
- Enhances the ability of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to share information collected on registered sex offenders.
- Reinforces Canada's ability to combat transnational organized crime and illegal fentanyl by amending the accelerated scheduling pathway under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act that allows the Minister of Health to control precursor chemicals that can be used to produce illegal drugs.
- Strengthens Canada's anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing regime, including tougher penalties and enhanced supervisory collaboration among federal agencies with financial sector responsibilities to target the illicit funds that enable organized crime.
These measures build on the significant progress Canada has already made in strengthening its border through investments in personnel, advanced AI technologies, aerial surveillance, and stronger partner coordination. By modernizing asylum processing and expanding intelligence‑sharing and financial‑crime authorities, the Act bolsters our strong and layered border approach that protects Canadians while upholding privacy and Charter rights.
