Bill S-8 (Historical)

An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, to make consequential amendments to other Acts and to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations

This bill is from the 44th Parliament, 1st session, which ended in January 2025.

Status

This bill has received Royal Assent and is now law.

Summary

This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament has also written a full legislative summary of the bill.

This enactment amends the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to, among other things,
(a) reorganize existing inadmissibility provisions relating to sanctions to establish a distinct ground of inadmissibility based on sanctions;
(b) expand the scope of inadmissibility based on sanctions to include not only sanctions imposed on a country but also those imposed on an entity or a person; and
(c) expand the scope of inadmissibility based on sanctions to include all orders and regulations made under section 4 of the Special Economic Measures Act .
It also makes consequential amendments to the Citizenship Act and the Emergencies Act .
Finally, it amends the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations to, among other things, provide that the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, instead of the Immigration Division, will have the authority to issue a removal order on grounds of inadmissibility based on sanctions under new paragraph 35.1(1)(a) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act .

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

Bill numbers are reused for different bills each new session. Perhaps you were looking for one of these other S-8s:

S-8 (2012) Law Safe Drinking Water for First Nations Act

S-8 (2010) Senatorial Selection Act

S-8 (2009) An Act to implement conventions and protocols concluded between Canada and Colombia, Greece and Turkey for the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income

S-8 (2004) An Act to amend the Judges Act

Votes

June 19, 2023 Passed Concurrence at report stage of Bill S-8, An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, to make consequential amendments to other Acts and to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations

June 19, 2023 Failed Bill S-8, An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, to make consequential amendments to other Acts and to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (report stage amendment)

June 16, 2023 Passed Time allocation for Bill S-8, An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, to make consequential amendments to other Acts and to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations

Feb. 13, 2023 Passed 2nd reading of Bill S-8, An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, to make consequential amendments to other Acts and to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations

Debate Summary

This is a computer-generated summary of the speeches below. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.

Bill S-8 amends the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the Citizenship Act, and the Emergencies Act to align Canada's inadmissibility criteria with its sanctions regime. The bill aims to prevent individuals sanctioned by Canada or international bodies, particularly those involved in human rights violations or acts of aggression, from entering or remaining in the country. While supported across party lines, some members express concern over the bill's limited scope, the government's past reluctance to fully utilize existing sanctions tools, and the lack of parliamentary oversight.

Conservative

General support, with reservations: The Conservatives generally support the bill as a step in the right direction, particularly the inadmissibility modifications. However, they express significant concerns about the government's broader handling of sanctions and national security issues.
Government's underutilization of sanctions: A primary concern is the government's reluctance to fully utilize existing sanctions tools, including the Magnitsky Act, hindering effective coordination with allies and deterring human rights abuses. Members highlighted the need for the government to be more proactive in applying sanctions against those involved in human rights abuses and threats to international peace and security.
Rule of law and ministerial discretion: Some members are concerned about the bill granting excessive discretionary power to the minister, potentially undermining the rule of law and creating inconsistencies in enforcement.
Focus on China, not Russia: One member argued that the bill is a distraction from the more pressing issue of the Chinese Communist government's actions, including election interference, espionage, and intimidation, suggesting the bill's focus should be shifted to address threats posed by China.

NDP

Supports Bill S-8: The NDP supports Bill S-8, as it is a step in the right direction, because it would make changes to sanctions related to immigration enforcement by bringing the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act into line with the SEMA, making sanctioned individuals inadmissible to Canada.
Need for comprehensive review: The NDP believes that Bill S-8 does not address the absence of parliamentary oversight of Canada's sanctions regime or enforcement in areas that are not immigration related. They are calling for a comprehensive review of Canada's sanctions regime, including issues of clarity and public communication.
Condemns Conservative tactics: The NDP criticizes the Conservatives for using parliamentary tactics to delay the progress of Bill S-8, such as moving an amendment to change the title of the bill, and urges them to stop playing games and focus on the important work of passing the bill.
Sanctioning regarding assets: The NDP highlights the ineffectiveness of Canada's sanction regime, particularly regarding assets, and calls for more effective accountability measures, including the potential application of sanctions to countries like China for foreign interference.

Bloc

Supports bill S-8: The Bloc Québécois supports Bill S-8 as it aligns with the desire of Quebeckers and Canadians to welcome those fleeing repression and humanitarian crises. The bill ensures Canada meets its international obligations regarding refugees, allowing individuals targeted by sanctions regimes to claim asylum while preventing them from obtaining permanent resident status if they remain sanctioned.
Effective teamwork improved bill: The Bloc Québécois acknowledges that the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs improved Bill S-8, ensuring it does not undermine attempts by individuals escaping war to seek refuge. They believe the bill was improved through collaboration among parties in committee, ensuring that those fleeing war, corruption and oppression are protected, not the instigators of conflict.
Bill requires review: The bill includes a provision for review after three years to assess its effectiveness, which the Bloc Québécois sees as a positive addition. This allows for future adjustments if the bill has unintended consequences on certain refugee groups.

Liberal

Strong support for Bill S-8: The Liberal speakers voiced strong support for Bill S-8, emphasizing that it would bolster Canada's sanctions regime by ensuring that all foreign nationals subject to sanctions under the Special Economic Measures Act (SEMA) are inadmissible to Canada.
Addressing a legislative gap: Speakers noted that Bill S-8 addresses a previously identified legislative gap where individuals sanctioned under SEMA for reasons other than gross human rights violations or corruption (e.g., grave breaches of international peace) could still enter Canada, which is unacceptable and contradicts the purpose of sanctions.
Protecting Canadian values: The bill strengthens the message that Canada does not welcome those who violate human rights, aligning immigration policies with sanctions to ensure meaningful consequences for sanctioned individuals and entities, both economically and in terms of access to Canada.
Enhancing enforcement: Speakers mentioned that the amendments would enable the Canada Border Services Agency and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to effectively refuse visas to sanctioned individuals, thereby enhancing enforcement of Canada's sanctions regime.

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