Protecting the Right to Safety: Emergency Panel on Bill C-12 and Canada’s Asylum System

TORONTO, ON — On February 25, the Global Migration Institute at Toronto Metropolitan University will host an emergency panel discussion on Bill C-12, the Strong Borders Act, and its potential impacts on refugees and asylum seekers in Canada. With the Senate accelerating the debate on Bill C-12, this urgent event features leading scholars, legal experts, and current and former senators to discuss what is at stake for people seeking protection in Canada.

Event Title: Protecting the Right to Safety: Responding to Bill C-12
Date: February 25, 2026
Time: 11:30 am – 1 pm EST
Location: Online via Zoom 

Featured Speakers Include Leading Scholars and Senators

Welcome: 

• Dr. Anna Triandafyllidou, Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and Integration and Founding Director of the Global Migration Institute, Toronto Metropolitan University

Chair: 

• The Honourable Ratna Omidvar, CM, OOnt, retired Senator, Public Policy Fellow, Toronto Metropolitan University

Panelists:

• Sharry Aiken, Professor, Faculty of Law, Queen's University
• Audrey Macklin, Professor, Jackman Law, University of Toronto
• The Honourable Senator Paula Simons, Senator from Alberta
• Sara Younes, Lincoln Alexander School of Law, Toronto Metropolitan University

This timely discussion brings together some of Canada’s foremost migration scholars and parliamentary voices to examine how Bill C-12 could reshape access to refugee protection, due process, and Canada’s international human rights obligations. Media are invited to attend and participate in the Q&A.

Media Contact:
Zoya Islam
Manager, Marketing & Communications
Canada Excellence Research Chair in Migration and Integration
Toronto Metropolitan University
Email: zoya.islam@torontomu.ca | Phone: 416-803-7777