The federal Liberals are set to introduce a new bill expected to mirror much of what’s in their already tabled border legislation — but with some clauses that sparked concerns from opposition parties and civil liberties groups removed.
The new bill, which is expected to be tabled this week, is in response to criticism that the Strong Borders Act, Bill C-2, oversteps its stated aims and infringes Canadians’ freedoms, sources tell CBC News.
Four sources said that the government is poised to introduce a second bill, paving the way for the government’s proposed border security measures to pass through Parliament — without the controversial clauses that allowed Canada Post to open mail and law enforcement to access some digital data without a warrant.
CBC News is not naming the sources who have knowledge of the plan because they were not authorized to speak about it.
Bill C-2 was introduced in June and includes expanded powers for law enforcement and government, with provisions to crack down on money laundering, put strict limits on refugee claims and allow agencies to share information more easily.
The bill’s sponsor, Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, told reporters in the spring that the proposed legislation was in part a response to complaints from the United States that the Canadian border is too porous.
The justification for U.S. President Donald Trump’s first round of tariffs on Canada was that border enforcement was too lax — prompting a $1.3-billion border crackdown from Canadian officials.
But, once tabled, privacy and civil liberties experts noted the proposed legislation — which is more than 100 pages long — includes a number of measures that have long been requested by law enforcement agencies, but don’t seem directly tied to border security.
All of the opposition parties expressed concerns about potential overreach. Both the NDP and Conservatives said they would not support the bill in its current form, prompting questions about how C-2 could garner enough support to pass in a minority Parliament.
This new legislation represents another setback for Anandasangaree, who is already dealing with calls for his resignation over his comments apparently questioning the Liberal government’s gun buyback program.
The new bill is expected to appear on the notice paper “imminently,” setting the stage for it to be tabled in the House of Commons later this week, a source said.
