We'll now go to NDP‑10.
Ms. Kwan, you have the floor.
PUBLIC SAFETY #15: Bill C-12 NDP-10 Amendment
PUBLIC SAFETY #15: Bill C-12 NDP-10 Amendment
Public Safety Committee on Nov. 25th, 2025
Evidence of meeting #15 for Public Safety and National Security in the 45th Parliament, 1st session.
11 p.m.
The Chair Jean-Yves Duclos
Liberal
Jenny Kwan Vancouver East, BC
NDP
This amendment actually relates to that last clause there. I'm moving that Bill C-12, in clause 72, be amended by adding after line 8 on page 29 the following:
(1.1) An order made under this section or section 87.302 or 87.303 is in the public interest if it addresses a serious threat to public health or any matter referred to in section 34.
Mr. Chair, this is actually another one of the major issues that is of grave concern to the NGOs that work with newcomers. They feel that the sweeping new proposed powers to cancel entire categories of immigration documents and applications in the “public interest” also allows the government to suspend the right to make new applications in a specific category and suspend and terminate the processing of applications already submitted, including applications for permanent or temporary residence, or for work or study permits, if it is deemed to be in the “public interest” to do so.
This not only affects international students and migrant workers, but reaches to every category of newcomer, and that does not—
Claude DeBellefeuille Beauharnois—Salaberry—Soulanges—Huntingdon, QC
Bloc
I have a point of order, Mr. Chair.
The Chair Jean-Yves Duclos
Liberal
Excuse me, Ms. Kwan, but we have a point of order.
Mrs. DeBellefeuille, you have the floor.
Claude DeBellefeuille Beauharnois—Salaberry—Soulanges—Huntingdon, QC
Bloc
The interpretation is not working.
The Chair Jean-Yves Duclos
Liberal
I'll speak in English to see whether the interpretation works.
Claude DeBellefeuille Beauharnois—Salaberry—Soulanges—Huntingdon, QC
Bloc
It's working now.
The Chair Jean-Yves Duclos
Liberal
Thank you, Mrs. DeBellefeuille.
I'm sorry, Ms. Kwan. You may resume.
Jenny Kwan Vancouver East, BC
NDP
Hopefully, interpretation is working. I have the same system on.
To carry on, many of the non-profits who work with the newcomer community, such as the Canadian Bar Association, have noted that this language is vague. A clear definition of public interest is needed. Stakeholders have noted that as this power defines procedural fairness, it increases the precarity of already vulnerable classes of newcomers and would open the door to discrimination for all future governments, especially as it introduces the ability to target restrictions of applications to certain foreign nationals.
My amendment limits the scope of the proposed new powers to cancel, suspend or change a whole range of immigration documents if deemed in the public interest, if it addresses a serious threat to health or any other matter referred to in section 34 of IRPA, which is concerned with security-related reasons for inadmissibility.
The Chair Jean-Yves Duclos
Thank you, Ms. Kwan.
Is NDP‑10 okay with the committee?
(Amendment negatived)
