OTTAWA — The federal Liberal government is preparing to rewrite its much-criticized border security legislation after facing widespread backlash over the bill’s potential impact on civil liberties, privacy, and refugee rights.
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree has given notice in the House of Commons that new legislation on borders and immigration could be introduced as early as Wednesday, signaling a significant policy shift.
The original bill, tabled in June, would have expanded the powers of border and law enforcement agencies — including new authority to search mail, easier access to personal information for police, and the ability for officials to pause or cancel immigration applications more readily. Ottawa argued the measures were necessary to strengthen border security, combat transnational organized crime, stop the flow of deadly fentanyl, and tackle money laundering.
However, the legislation quickly drew fierce opposition from civil society groups. More than 300 organizations signed an open letter urging the government to withdraw the bill, warning that it endangered fundamental rights and privacy protections for Canadians, refugees, and migrants.
The bill also struggled to gain political traction. With the Liberals in a minority position, the government appeared unable to secure enough votes to pass the legislation. In Question Period on Monday, Anandasangaree criticized the Conservatives for refusing to support the bill. “This is a measure that was asked for by law enforcement,” he said. “It will strengthen our border to make sure our country is safe.”
The legislation emerged in response to sustained pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, which cited concerns over irregular southbound migration and fentanyl flows to justify tariffs on Canadian goods. Canadian police chiefs, the national fentanyl czar, and child protection advocates had supported the bill.
Civil liberties advocates, however, warned that the legislation would have set a dangerous precedent. They highlighted provisions that would allow police and intelligence agencies to demand information about individuals’ online accounts and compel companies to hand over data, unencrypted emails, and browsing histories based on a lower legal threshold of “reasonable suspicion” rather than “reasonable belief.”
By flagging plans to retool the legislation, the Carney government is seeking to strike a balance between border security and civil rights — a debate that is likely to dominate Ottawa’s agenda in the coming weeks as new proposals take shape.