Canada bill c-2
Executive summary
Bill C-2, introduced June 3, 2025 as the “Strong Borders Act,” bundles broad changes to border management, immigration, law enforcement powers, and financial-surveillance measures — including expanded CBSA inspection powers, new restrictions on large cash transactions over $10,000, and provisions to ease law‑enforcement access to transmission/subscriber information [1] [2] [3]. The bill has prompted sharp pushback from civil‑liberties, refugee‑rights and privacy groups and prompted the government to split or revise some provisions (notably removing certain warrantless “lawful access” powers in an October iteration), while government statements stress crime‑fighting and cross‑border cooperation [4] [5] [6].
1. What the bill actually proposes: breadth and key measures
Bill C-2 covers many domains beyond simple border controls. It amends the Customs Act to expand CBSA access to facilities and goods — including inspection of goods in bonded warehouses and goods destined for export — and proposes cross‑agency information sharing, new mail‑screening authority with Canada Post, and amendments to criminal‑law and mutual‑assistance rules to facilitate access to transmission and subscriber data [7] [8] [1] [3]. It would also place new AML‑style requirements on businesses (registration with FINTRAC) and restrict cash payments or donations over $10,000 and third‑party cash deposits [2].
2. Government framing: security, fentanyl and cross‑border pressure
The government frames C-2 as a pragmatic update to “disrupt increasingly complex criminal groups,” stop fentanyl through the mail, and strengthen Canada‑U.S. border cooperation. Public Safety notes the bill clarifies public‑to‑private information sharing and targets organized crime while the broader Canada Border Plan includes a $1.3 billion investment claim [6]. Officials presented C‑12 later as a companion to fast‑track elements the government deemed urgent [6] [9].
3. Privacy and surveillance concerns: what critics say
Privacy and civil‑liberties groups warn the bill grants sweeping new surveillance authorities. OpenMedia and the EFF argue C‑2 would empower police and CSIS to compel metadata and account‑related details, permit warrants or demands that skirt court oversight, and could enable coercive obligations on companies — including potential backdoors — with downstream cross‑border data sharing risks [10] [4]. A joint letter of academics and groups described the bill as an “assault” on rights [4].
4. Revisions, pushback and political fallout
Strong, sustained opposition from more than 300 civil‑society organizations, academics and legal experts generated political pressure. In October the government removed the controversial warrantless “lawful access” Parts 14 and 15 from a revised border bill, a reversal acknowledged by digital‑rights commentator Michael Geist [5] [4]. Still, advocacy groups continue to call for withdrawal or fuller changes, arguing remaining provisions still threaten refugee rights and privacy [9] [11].
5. Refugee and human‑rights criticisms
Refugee‑rights organizations and Amnesty International say parts of C‑2 would sharply narrow access to asylum, effectively blocking many people who cross the U.S. border from having claims heard and barring claims for people in Canada over certain time thresholds, which they say undermines due process and Canada’s international obligations [11]. Greenpeace and other NGOs cast the bill as an erosion of rights and a move towards authoritarian control [12].
6. Legal risk and likely challenges
Legal analysts anticipate constitutional and Charter litigation. Dentons notes the low threshold of suspicion for certain information demands and the Supreme Court’s privacy precedents make parts of C‑2 vulnerable to challenge if enacted [1]. Civil‑liberties groups also signal court challenges and political campaigns if the state presses forward [4] [10].
7. What remains unclear or not covered in current reporting
Available sources do not mention the bill’s final legislative text after any split into C‑2/C‑12 beyond the announced removals and companion bills, nor do they provide a complete, consolidated schedule of which provisions now sit in which bill after the October revisions [5] [6]. Detailed operational protocols for Canada Post’s expanded mail‑opening authority are not specified in the summaries provided [8].
8. Bottom line for readers
Bill C‑2 represents a sweeping package that mixes border enforcement, immigration rule changes, financial controls and expanded information‑access powers; the government argues it targets serious organized crime and fentanyl flows while critics say it endangers privacy and refugee protections [6] [2] [11] [4]. The October removal of some warrantless access powers demonstrates political responsiveness, but substantial legal and human‑rights debate remains, and further splits into companion bills (C‑12) complicate tracking what would actually become law [5] [9].