April 20, 2026
What is Bill C-12 and why does it matter?
Understanding changes to the asylum system in Canada
In Canada, many decisions that directly affect the lives of migrants and asylum seekers are made through laws that are not always easy to understand.
The Bill C-12 is one of those laws.
It is a legislative proposal that introduces changes to Canada’s asylum system, particularly in how claims are processed and who can access the system.
What changes does it introduce?
While its implementation and scope may continue to evolve, Bill C-12 aims to modify key aspects of the asylum system, including:
- Restrictions on access to the asylum process, especially for people arriving through certain pathways or after transiting through other countries
- Changes to procedures and timelines, affecting how and when claims can be submitted
- A stronger focus on system management and control, with the goal of increasing efficiency, but also potentially making access more restrictive
Overall, these changes seek to reorganize the system, but they also raise concerns about possible limitations on access to protection.
Why is this also a human rights issue?
The right to seek asylum is a fundamental right.
Changes to laws like this have a direct impact on:
- Access to international protection
- Due process guarantees
- The conditions under which people can present their claims
From a human rights perspective, key questions arise:
- Who is included and who is excluded from the system?
- What new barriers are being created or reinforced?
- How do these changes affect the most vulnerable?
Migration policies are not neutral — they shape people’s possibilities for safety, dignity, and a future.
What will NEXUM do?
At NEXUM, we believe that understanding public policy is essential to exercising rights.
That is why we will be hosting a training session with experts in migration, asylum law, and public policy to better understand these changes and their implications.
🗓 Thursday, April 16
🕖 7:00 pm
In this space, we will explore:
- What Bill C-12 establishes
- How it works in practice
- What it means for migrant communities
Our goal is to translate these changes into clear, accessible, and useful information.
