Statement by the Privacy Commissioner of Canada to the Standing Senate Committee on National Security, Defence and Veterans Affairs on Bill C-12

February 12, 2026
Ottawa, Ontario

Opening statement by Philippe Dufresne
Privacy Commissioner of Canada

(Check against delivery)

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Mr. Chair, Members of the Committee.

Thank you for the invitation to appear before you today to support your study of Bill C-12, the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act.

I am accompanied by Marc Chénier, Deputy Commissioner and Senior General Counsel.

Bill C-12 would amend a number of laws and regulations with a view to strengthening immigration and border security and combatting transnational organized crime and the flow of illicit narcotics and financing. These are important public-interest objectives.

Bill C-12 contains important positive safeguards with respect to information-sharing agreements for disclosures outside Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Specifically, Bill C-12 requires written information-sharing agreements for when the Minister of Immigration discloses specified immigration-related personal information outside the Department.

The Bill indicates that such agreements must include the elements of personal information that may be disclosed, the purpose of the disclosure, any limits on secondary use and subsequent transfer of information and any other relevant details.

Moreover, it includes an explicit prohibition on onward sharing of personal information to a foreign entity in the absence of ministerial authorization.

The initial version of the Bill included a provision that would grant customs officers free access to premises or places where goods destined for export are stored. I recommended that the Bill clarify that an officer may not enter a dwelling-house without the consent of the occupant except under the authority of a warrant. I am pleased to see that an amendment to that effect was adopted in the Other Place.

Finally, as the Bill allows for the government to issue regulations with respect to the disclosure of information, it will be important for my Office to be consulted by the government in the development of these regulations.

Thank you, and I look forward to your questions.