Kevin Brosseau, Canada’s lead on fentanyl issues, stands beside Denver, a narcotics-sniffing dog with the Canada Border Services Agency, during a visit to the CBSA border checkpoint in Lansdowne, Ontario, on Wednesday, February 12, 2025. The Canadian Press
A group of civil society organizations has raised serious concerns about the federal government's new border security bill. They believe it could weaken privacy protections and human rights for many people in Canada. The coalition is asking the government to withdraw the bill and replace it with one that focuses only on key border issues.
Who Is Speaking Out?
The group speaking out is the International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group. This Ottawa-based coalition includes dozens of organizations such as unions, legal associations, religious and environmental groups, as well as refugee and immigrant support groups.
They argue the current bill gives too much unchecked power to authorities. They say the bill reaches far beyond border security and into areas like immigration, surveillance, and personal privacy.
What’s in the Bill?
The bill gives new powers to federal officers. They would be able to:
- Open and search letter mail
- Pause or cancel immigration applications
- Widen the Coast Guard’s role to include intelligence-gathering
- Make it easier for police and spy agencies to access internet subscriber information
- Force internet providers to help police and CSIS with investigations
The government says this bill will help stop fentanyl, money laundering, and organized crime at the border. They also claim it will protect children from online predators and fix problems with the immigration system.
Why Are People Worried?
Tim McSorley, the coalition’s national co-ordinator, says the bill is too broad. He believes it tries to solve unrelated problems with a single law. He said, “If the government is serious about tackling drug and gun crime, it should create a focused law, not a massive one that affects too many areas.”
The coalition is also worried the new law:
- Would block some people from claiming asylum
- Gives Canada Post too much power to open personal mail
- Allows Coast Guard officers to act like police without oversight
- Lets police get personal internet info without a warrant in urgent cases
McSorley says if the bill is replaced, the government should speak with experts on civil rights, privacy, and immigration before writing a new version.
Support From Law Enforcement
Despite the concerns, police and child safety advocates support the bill. Canada’s police chiefs say current laws do not let them keep up with crime that involves the internet or crosses borders. They believe the new bill would help stop things like drug smuggling, gun trafficking, and violent organized crime.
What Happens Next?
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree says the government will soon release a full explanation of how the bill follows the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. He also said the goal is to protect both safety and privacy.
