Omnibus Overreach: Immigration and Refugee Reform Buried in Bill C-2

In this episode of Secure Line, Leah West, Jessica Davis, and Stephanie Carvin unpack one of the most contentious parts of the Carney government’s Strong Borders Act—the sweeping amendments to Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). Joined by immigration lawyer Jackie Bonisteel, they explore how sections 6 through 9 of the omnibus bill grant the government broad powers to suspend or terminate immigration applications “in the public interest.” The hosts probe whether these provisions are about genuine border security—or an attempt to quietly rewrite Canada’s immigration policy under the guise of national security.As Bonisteel explains, the legislation’s implications reach far beyond border management. The proposed one-year limit on filing refugee claims could bar legitimate claimants—from long-term residents to LGBTQ+ individuals discovering their identities in Canada—from ever seeking protection. The episode highlights how the new pre-removal risk assessment process offers a paper-based substitute for Canada’s robust refugee system, stripping claimants of hearings, appeals, and due-process safeguards. Bonisteel warns that these measures will deepen backlogs, create legal limbo for thousands, and erode Canada’s obligations under the principle of non-refoulement.The conversation broadens into a critique of omnibus lawmaking, where unrelated reforms—from immigration to privacy—are bundled together and rushed through Parliament. The hosts and Bonisteel question whether the government’s “Strong Borders” rhetoric masks a deliberate tightening of humanitarian pathways and a retreat from Canada’s long-standing refugee commitments. With the bill now facing mounting opposition from lawyers, privacy advocates, and civil-society groups alike, Secure Line asks: is this about strengthening Canada’s borders—or weakening its values?