June 4, 2025 – Ottawa | Public Safety Canada
In a sweeping move to enhance national security and restore public confidence in Canada's immigration and border systems, the Government of Canada has tabled The Strong Borders Act, a landmark piece of legislation aimed at securing borders, tackling organized crime, disrupting money laundering, and modernizing the country’s asylum process.
The proposed bill, introduced by Public Safety Canada, marks one of the most comprehensive security reform packages in recent years. It addresses the rising threat of transnational crime, the influx of synthetic opioids like fentanyl, and inefficiencies in Canada's asylum and immigration systems.
Key Highlights of the Strong Borders Act
Strengthening Border Security
The Act includes significant changes to several federal laws to reinforce Canada's border and maritime enforcement capabilities:
- Canadian Coast Guard Expansion
Amendments to the Oceans Act will now enable the Canadian Coast Guard to:- Conduct security patrols.
- Collect, analyze, and share intelligence, especially in remote Arctic waters.
- Strengthen maritime domain awareness and sovereignty.
- Sex Offender Information Sharing
The Sex Offender Information Registration Act will be revised to:- Allow the RCMP to share sex offender data with domestic and international partners, including U.S. law enforcement.
Immigration System Reforms
Canada's immigration and refugee policies will undergo major changes through amendments to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and Department of Citizenship and Immigration Act, including:
- Data Sharing for Security and Efficiency
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will be allowed to share client data with federal, provincial, and territorial partners.
- Internal data sharing between IRCC programs will be streamlined (e.g., using PR application info for citizenship processing).
- Emergency Controls on Immigration
For national security or public health emergencies, the government can:- Cancel, suspend, or modify immigration documents in bulk.
- Temporarily pause the acceptance and processing of immigration applications.
- Modernized Asylum System
- Online claim processes will be standardized, regardless of the point of entry.
- Only physically present claimants will be eligible for a decision by the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB).
- Inactive cases will be removed from the system to reduce backlog.
- Vulnerable claimants (e.g., minors) will receive added procedural support.
- Removal orders will take effect the same day a claim is withdrawn, expediting voluntary departures.
New Asylum Ineligibility Rules
To prevent system abuse:
- Claims made more than one year after arrival (post-June 24, 2020) will not be referred to the IRB.
- Claims from those who enter between U.S. land border ports and apply more than 14 days later will also be ineligible.
Note: Affected individuals can still apply for a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) to ensure protection against return to countries where they may face harm.
Fighting Illegal Fentanyl & Transnational Organized Crime
To respond to rising opioid trafficking and criminal sophistication:
- Accelerated Control of Precursor Chemicals
A new scheduling pathway under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act will allow:- Faster restriction of chemicals used in fentanyl production.
- Enhanced oversight of legitimate chemical use.
- Expanded Law Enforcement Tools
Amendments to multiple Acts (Criminal Code, Customs Act, CSIS Act, etc.) will:- Facilitate lawful access to basic data in early criminal investigations.
- Modernize powers related to digital searches and computer system access.
- Authorize urgent, warrantless searches in time-sensitive scenarios (e.g., live child abuse).
- Require transporters and warehouse operators to provide access and facilities for CBSA export inspections.
New Surveillance & Intelligence Measures
- Supporting Authorized Access to Information Act (SAAIA)
This newly proposed law will:- Mandate that electronic service providers (ESPs) support lawful requests from law enforcement and CSIS.
- Ensure ESPs have technical capabilities to assist investigations.
- Canada Post Authority Expansion
Amendments will:- Allow authorized police searches of mail for criminal investigations.
- Expand Canada Post’s authority to inspect and open mail.
Disrupting Illicit Financing and Money Laundering
Canada is stepping up its financial crime enforcement by:
- Strengthening the PCMLTFA (Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act) with:
- Higher civil and criminal penalties for offenders.
- New restrictions on large cash and third-party deposits.
- Mandatory registration with FINTRAC for all regulated businesses.
- Allowing FINTRAC to share data with the Office of the Commissioner of Canada Elections.
- Enabling Public-Private Data Sharing
Amendments to the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act will:- Clarify data-sharing rules between financial institutions and enforcement agencies.
- Support the new Integrated Money Laundering Intelligence Partnership (IMLIP).
- Financial Sector Oversight
The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions Act will be revised to:- Add the Director of FINTRAC to the Financial Institutions Supervisory Committee (FISC).
- Enable better data exchange between FINTRAC and other financial oversight bodies.
Government’s Message
“This Bill is about strengthening Canada’s sovereignty, ensuring border safety, and protecting Canadians from real and emerging threats,” said Public Safety Canada. “The measures are proportionate, targeted, and respectful of Canadians’ Charter rights and privacy.”
The Strong Borders Act underscores Canada's evolving security posture as it adapts to global migration pressures, opioid trafficking, and digital-age criminal networks. If passed, it could dramatically reshape how Canada manages its borders, processes asylum claims, and combats transnational threats.