take action on Bill c-2: A Threat to Canadians, refugees and migrants |
** At the bottom of this page are ACTIONS you can easily take to express your views to Prime Minister Carney, cabinet Ministers and MPs.
- Let MPs and Ministers know! The Bill is being debated now (as of October 3) in Parliament.
- MPs bring our feedback to caucus meetings and to Parliament.
- The numbers of calls and emails about an issue matter.
Background
Introduced on June 3, Bill C-2 or 'The Strong Borders Bill' , sent shock waves through communities and rights defense groups. Hundreds of organizations are calling for it to be scrapped along with the Green and NDP parties. Not only does this massive bill undermine our refugee system and endanger thousands of people in need of protection, but it will realign and weaken our privacy rights and empower surveillance systems in response to US demands. It opens the door to unprecedented access to Canadians’ personal information by our police forces and government as well as foreign governments and agencies. These later could include authoritarian regimes world wide and a number of US agencies such as the FBI and ICE, a now notorious and lawless agency.
Prime Minister Carney was elected to protect us from an autocratic anti-democratic Trump presidency, not give into his demands. The PM also has no mandate to curtail refugee rights and put at risk people who are fleeing war, persecution, torture and, for those in the US, legitimate fears of the Trump regime's dehumanizing and illegal policies (arbitrary often illegal arrest, parents wrenched from their children, detention in terrible inhumane conditions including 'Alligator Alcatraz', deportation to unsafe third countries and more). Even some green card holders and naturalized US citizens can be at risk.
Introduced on June 3, Bill C-2 or 'The Strong Borders Bill' , sent shock waves through communities and rights defense groups. Hundreds of organizations are calling for it to be scrapped along with the Green and NDP parties. Not only does this massive bill undermine our refugee system and endanger thousands of people in need of protection, but it will realign and weaken our privacy rights and empower surveillance systems in response to US demands. It opens the door to unprecedented access to Canadians’ personal information by our police forces and government as well as foreign governments and agencies. These later could include authoritarian regimes world wide and a number of US agencies such as the FBI and ICE, a now notorious and lawless agency.
Prime Minister Carney was elected to protect us from an autocratic anti-democratic Trump presidency, not give into his demands. The PM also has no mandate to curtail refugee rights and put at risk people who are fleeing war, persecution, torture and, for those in the US, legitimate fears of the Trump regime's dehumanizing and illegal policies (arbitrary often illegal arrest, parents wrenched from their children, detention in terrible inhumane conditions including 'Alligator Alcatraz', deportation to unsafe third countries and more). Even some green card holders and naturalized US citizens can be at risk.
A Brief Overview of Bill C-2
Impact on ALL Canadians and Residents
Mass Surveillance Without Warrants: Police and CSIS can demand your online data, emails, and browsing history from any service provider based only on “reasonable suspicion”—no warrant required.
Forced Corporate Spying: Companies must monitor your personal data under secret government orders, with full immunity for privacy violations.
Mail Surveillance: Canada Post can open your mail without a warrant.
Foreign Access to Your Data: Bill C-2 prepares Canada to share your personal information with US authorities and other foreign governments, undermining constitutional protections.
Impact on Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Migrants
One-Year Refugee Deadline: Bill C-2 blocks anyone in Canada over one year from claiming refugee status—even if their home country becomes dangerous after arrival. This applies retroactively to June 2020, and puts people in need of protection at risk of removal back to danger in their homelands, which is a violation of refugee law. This mimics the much criticized one year bar in the US, but in fact is much worse as no exceptions are allowed.
Eliminates US Border Exception: Previously, asylum seekers crossing from the US between official ports could apply for refugee status after 14 days. Bill C-2 removes this completely, trapping vulnerable people under Trump’s inhumane, illegal policies.
Mass Deportation Powers: The Immigration Minister gains authority to cancel permits for entire groups without due process—including revoking permanent residency applications already submitted. Migrants could lose status overnight with no legal recourse and the risk of deportation.
Privacy Protections Removed: The bill allows unrestricted information sharing about migrants across all government levels. Undocumented workers asserting labor rights could face deportation when employers report them to border enforcement.
Impact on ALL Canadians and Residents
Mass Surveillance Without Warrants: Police and CSIS can demand your online data, emails, and browsing history from any service provider based only on “reasonable suspicion”—no warrant required.
Forced Corporate Spying: Companies must monitor your personal data under secret government orders, with full immunity for privacy violations.
Mail Surveillance: Canada Post can open your mail without a warrant.
Foreign Access to Your Data: Bill C-2 prepares Canada to share your personal information with US authorities and other foreign governments, undermining constitutional protections.
Impact on Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Migrants
One-Year Refugee Deadline: Bill C-2 blocks anyone in Canada over one year from claiming refugee status—even if their home country becomes dangerous after arrival. This applies retroactively to June 2020, and puts people in need of protection at risk of removal back to danger in their homelands, which is a violation of refugee law. This mimics the much criticized one year bar in the US, but in fact is much worse as no exceptions are allowed.
Eliminates US Border Exception: Previously, asylum seekers crossing from the US between official ports could apply for refugee status after 14 days. Bill C-2 removes this completely, trapping vulnerable people under Trump’s inhumane, illegal policies.
Mass Deportation Powers: The Immigration Minister gains authority to cancel permits for entire groups without due process—including revoking permanent residency applications already submitted. Migrants could lose status overnight with no legal recourse and the risk of deportation.
Privacy Protections Removed: The bill allows unrestricted information sharing about migrants across all government levels. Undocumented workers asserting labor rights could face deportation when employers report them to border enforcement.
Quick Actions You Can Take Now
1. Calls
https://migrantrights.ca/actionslist/c2call/ - The Migrant Rights Network: put your phone number in the form and you will be connected up consecutively with the offices of: the Minister of Public Security (Gary Anandasangaree); the Minister of Immigration ( Lena Metlege Diab) and your Member of Parliament. Leave your name and a short message as to why you oppose the Bill. Be polite but clear. Ask them to consider your objections and withdraw this Bill.
** If the automatic system does not function here are their numbers:
Gary Anandasangaree, Public Safety Minister: 613-992-1351
Lena Metlege Diab, Immigration Minister: 613-996-3085
Find your local MP: https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en
2. Letters
You can plug in your details on the following platforms and they automatically send an email letter to the Prime Minister, Ministers and MPs. The more letters the better!
https://ccrweb.ca/en/take-action-write-mp-bill-c-2 - Canadian Council for Refugees
https://iclmg.ca/stop-bill-c-2/ - International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group
https://migrantrights.ca/actionslist/stopc2/ - The Migrant Rights Network
https://action.openmedia.org/page/173242/action/1 - Open Media
https://takeaction.amnesty.ca/page/173197/action/1 - Amnesty International Canada
House of Commons: petition e-6627 against Bill C-2
1. Calls
https://migrantrights.ca/actionslist/c2call/ - The Migrant Rights Network: put your phone number in the form and you will be connected up consecutively with the offices of: the Minister of Public Security (Gary Anandasangaree); the Minister of Immigration ( Lena Metlege Diab) and your Member of Parliament. Leave your name and a short message as to why you oppose the Bill. Be polite but clear. Ask them to consider your objections and withdraw this Bill.
** If the automatic system does not function here are their numbers:
Gary Anandasangaree, Public Safety Minister: 613-992-1351
Lena Metlege Diab, Immigration Minister: 613-996-3085
Find your local MP: https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en
2. Letters
You can plug in your details on the following platforms and they automatically send an email letter to the Prime Minister, Ministers and MPs. The more letters the better!
https://ccrweb.ca/en/take-action-write-mp-bill-c-2 - Canadian Council for Refugees
https://iclmg.ca/stop-bill-c-2/ - International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group
https://migrantrights.ca/actionslist/stopc2/ - The Migrant Rights Network
https://action.openmedia.org/page/173242/action/1 - Open Media
https://takeaction.amnesty.ca/page/173197/action/1 - Amnesty International Canada
House of Commons: petition e-6627 against Bill C-2