The federal government has introduced new legislation aimed at strengthening Canada’s borders and giving law enforcement expanded tools to fight transnational crime, drug trafficking, and money laundering.
The Strong Borders Act, tabled Tuesday in the House of Commons by Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree, includes wide-ranging amendments to existing laws. It targets organized criminal networks, aims to curb the flow of illegal fentanyl, and seeks to improve border enforcement while maintaining privacy and Charter protections.
“This legislation is about giving our agencies what they need to protect Canadians and uphold the integrity of our borders,” Anandasangaree said. “It reflects our commitment to keeping communities safe while working closely with our American partners.”
The bill includes several changes to the Customs Act that will require operators at key ports of entry and exit to provide and maintain facilities used by border officers to inspect and detain goods. It also gives the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) more authority to access warehouses and shipping terminals to inspect items before export.
The Oceans Act would be amended to allow the Canadian Coast Guard to perform security patrols and share intelligence — a shift toward integrating maritime security into national defence strategy.
The RCMP would also be granted expanded authority to share information on sex offenders with domestic and international partners, while Canada’s immigration system would be given new powers to manage spikes in asylum claims and revoke or suspend documents in cases of fraud or public safety concerns.
The legislation introduces new tools to fight the synthetic drug trade. A fast-track system would allow the federal health minister to rapidly restrict precursor chemicals used to make illegal drugs like fentanyl. Law enforcement would also gain better access to data and digital evidence through amendments to the Criminal Code and the creation of the Supporting Authorized Access to Information Act (SAAIA).
In a move expected to generate debate, the bill proposes amendments to the Canada Post Corporation Act to remove legal barriers preventing police from searching mail when authorized by a court. Canada Post itself would also gain inspection authority to intercept suspicious packages.
To counter money laundering and terrorist financing, the legislation introduces stiffer penalties and limits on large cash transactions. It expands oversight powers for FINTRAC and enables stronger cooperation with banks and law enforcement under the recently launched Integrated Money Laundering Intelligence Partnership (IMLIP).
Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said the changes are designed to close enforcement gaps and bring Canada’s financial crime regime in line with international standards. “This is about hitting criminal networks where it hurts — their money,” he said.
The bill also includes measures to manage irregular migration and improve processing capacity. These include streamlining asylum intake procedures, introducing new eligibility rules, and improving how Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada shares information with other levels of government.
Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab said the reforms are needed to “protect the integrity of the system while ensuring that those with legitimate claims are treated fairly and efficiently.”
The Strong Borders Act forms part of Canada’s $1.3 billion Border Plan, which includes:
- $743.5 million over five years to support the asylum system
- $379 million in anti-money laundering efforts
- The recruitment of 1,000 new RCMP officers and 1,000 CBSA personnel
- New detector dog teams and increased intelligence capacity
More legislative and policy announcements are expected later this year, including bail reform and further measures to address car theft, human trafficking, and gun smuggling.
The bill is expected to begin second reading later this month.
