B.C. Premier says Senate may weaken Bill C-12

Premier David Eby said a Senate committee has proposed removing parts of Bill C-12 intended to limit refugee claims by alleged extortion suspects; the bill remains under Senate review.

Premier David Eby has publicly criticised recommendations from a Senate committee that he says would remove provisions from Bill C-12 designed to stop alleged extortion suspects from using refugee claims to delay deportation. He urged that the proposed changes would affect protections aimed at residents south of the Fraser and questioned the judgment of the committee. The bill also includes measures to speed up inadmissibility and deportation processes for people with links to organised crime. Rights and refugee groups told the committee they are concerned some sections could weaken refugee protections. Key developments: - Premier David Eby said the Senate social affairs committee proposed removing provisions that would bar people who first arrived in Canada more than a year before filing refugee claims. - Bill C-12 is currently under study in the Senate and committee recommendations have been reported; its final outcome is undetermined at this time. - The Canada Border Services Agency reported it is investigating 281 people linked to extortion, 104 of whom had filed refugee claims, and said 10 people had been deported as of Jan. 30. Summary: Provincial officials say removing the contested provisions would make it harder to limit refugee claims by people alleged to be linked to extortion, while rights groups say some changes could undermine refugee protections. The legislation remains before the Senate and the bill's ultimate fate is undetermined at this time.