Vote No
An Act respecting certain measures relating to the security of the border between Canada and the United States and respecting other related security measures
A wide‑ranging security bill that expands border, immigration, anti‑money‑laundering (AML), and investigative powers to secure the Canada–U.S. border and modernize lawful access to information. It gives CBSA expanded access to export‑bound goods and continues free‑of‑charge facility obligations, lets Canada Post open letters on reasonable suspicion, and authorizes the Coast Guard to collect and share security intelligence. It tightens asylum and immigration controls, including new ineligibility grounds, physical‑presence requirements, and orders in council that can pause, terminate, or cancel classes of applications or documents. The AML regime is toughened with enrolment, higher penalties, a ban on third‑party cash deposits, and a prohibition on cash payments or donations of $10,000 or more. A new Supporting Authorized Access to Information Act compels electronic service providers to maintain capabilities to assist lawful access, with a safeguard against mandated systemic vulnerabilities, and adds new Criminal Code and CSIS information‑demand tools with limited judicial review and non‑disclosure provisions.
The bill materially improves safety and financial‑system integrity, but it imposes heavy compliance costs, sweeping ministerial powers, and cash restrictions that constrain economic freedom and may dampen investment and trade competitiveness. On balance, the economic downsides and regulatory burden outweigh clear gains toward prosperity‑focused tenets, despite notable security benefits.
Suggestions to better align with growth and competitiveness while maintaining safety:
What is the government’s estimate of the impact on small businesses and charities of banning cash payments and donations of $10,000 or more, and where is the analysis showing the reduction in money laundering justifies the compliance and revenue hit to legitimate actors?
Under the bill’s new orders in council that can suspend or terminate classes of immigration applications and cancel existing documents, what concrete safeguards, time limits, and reporting to Parliament will prevent overreach and ensure due process for applicants already in the queue?
How will the Supporting Authorized Access to Information Act avoid creating de facto encryption backdoors or costly custom interfaces for Canadian tech firms, and will the government commit to transparent, timely compensation and strict limits on ministerial orders that could harm privacy and competitiveness?
Enhanced security and AML can protect the economy, but broad compliance costs, cash restrictions, and potential trade friction make net prosperity effects uncertain.
Introduces new prohibitions (e.g., cash acceptance), mandatory capabilities for service providers, and sweeping ministerial order powers — increasing constraints on commerce and enterprise.
Security upgrades may reduce crime risk, but greater border checks, postal opening, and compliance burdens can slow operations and raise costs for exporters and digital firms.
No direct export promotion; expanded CBSA access and facility obligations may create logistics friction even as they aim to keep the border secure.
Heavier AML and lawful‑access obligations raise costs and legal risk for financial, technology, and telecom firms, which can chill investment despite the no‑systemic‑vulnerability safeguard.
Streamlines information‑sharing, modernizes investigative tools, clarifies asylum processing, and reduces procedural delays through standardized orders and forms.
No tax measures.
Large in scope for security and enforcement, but not oriented to broad-based economic prosperity.
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