Public Safety Committee on Nov. 25th, 2025
Evidence of meeting #15 for Public Safety and National Security in the 45th Parliament, 1st session
10 p.m.
The Chair Jean-Yves Duclos
Liberal
I was listening too closely to advice that I shouldn't be listening to in some cases—not in most cases.
Yes, CPC-20 was rejected, and we are therefore moving to NDP-4.
NDP-4, as I said, is deemed to be moved, and Madam Kwan, do you want to speak to it?
Jenny Kwan Vancouver East, BC
NDP
I move that Bill C-12, in clause 45, be amended by replacing line 26 on page 20 with the following:
quested to do so, the Minister may transmit the claim to
Bill C-12 introduces provisions that will result in claims being declared abandoned before they have been referred to the IRB if a claimant does not provide information and documents in a timely manner. As the Canadian Council for Refugees raised in their brief on Bill C-12, “The automatic nature of the provision will generate a new backlog of abandonment hearings for the IRB.”
This would waste significant, already-scarce IRB resources by mandating referrals for claims that do not need to be referred for abandonment, for example, in cases where a claimant just needs a few more days to provide documents or misses an interview due to illness. The provisions will also disproportionately impact more vulnerable claimants who may face communications or technological barriers. Once a claim is declared abandoned, a person cannot make another refugee claim.
To avoid this, my amendment would remove the mandatory nature of this clause by changing “must transmit” to “may transmit”.
I hope committee members will support this amendment. From what I'm seeing so far, the Liberals and the Conservatives are sure as heck working hand in hand. I hope this will break that trend.
The Chair Jean-Yves Duclos
Liberal
Thank you, Ms. Kwan.
Shall NDP‑4 carry?
(Amendment negatived)
