Almost a year ago, Canadian voters elected a government that promised a fundamental shift toward pragmatism. Prime Minister Mark Carney’s mandate was clear: achieve sustainable immigration levels and ensure that “government itself must become much more productive … by focusing on results over spending.”
But since Parliament passed Bill C-12 — the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act — the government is at risk of violating its own evidence-based pledge.
While others have rightly commented on the human rights concerns (and there are many) raised by this legislation — including those on the United Nations Human Rights Committee — the argument that sacrificing immigrants’ rights will enhance administrative capacity is a bold claim worth investigating.
