Canada's federal government has enacted a new law that restricts asylum claims, prompting Toronto refugee lawyers to report to CBC that their clients are "panicking" over what the change means for them.

CBC quoted Toronto practitioners as saying the phone has not stopped ringing since the legislation came into effect. Existing claimants have asked whether they will lose the right to remain in Canada.

What does the new law change?

The legislation limits the circumstances under which a person can pursue an asylum claim in Canada. CBC reported the changes as part of a broader federal effort to control the volume and processing of refugee applications. Lawyers in Toronto say clients who filed earlier do not yet know whether their cases fall under the new restrictions.

Lawyers have flooded legal clinics with calls about the full text and the effective date.

Who is affected?

The new restrictions touch several groups:

• Refugee claimants already inside Canada whose cases remain pending
• Individuals who may have considered filing a future claim
• Communities served by Toronto's refugee claimant bar, one of the largest in the country

Lawyers warn that confusion itself can damage a case. Missing a deadline or a required step now carries higher stakes under the tightened regime.

How does Canada's asylum system normally work?

A person seeking asylum in Canada typically makes a claim at a port of entry or at an IRCC office. The case then moves to the Immigration and Refugee Board, an independent tribunal that decides whether the claimant qualifies as a refugee under Canadian law. Approved claimants can apply for permanent residence. Rejected claimants may face removal.

Lawyers say they need to know whether the new law changes any step in that pipeline: filing, eligibility screening, the hearing itself, or the appeals process.

What are lawyers telling clients to do?

Practitioners are urging existing clients not to delay. Lawyers have asked claimants to:

• Confirm the status of their pending file
• Bring all documents and identity papers in order
• Avoid travel outside Canada without checking how the new rules affect their case
• Seek counsel before any deadline expires

The Law Society of Ontario and Toronto-area legal aid clinics say they will publish updated guidance once the federal text is fully released.

What are lawyers seeing in their case files?

Practitioners in Toronto report three patterns among their existing clients:

• Phone calls asking whether the new rules apply retroactively
• Requests for emergency appointments before any new deadline
• Anxiety from claimants who rely on legal aid and fear losing representation

Some lawyers say the panic itself has slowed their ability to take on new cases, because existing files now consume the time that would otherwise go to fresh consultations.

Why this matters

Canada has long been one of the largest receivers of asylum seekers in the Global North. Changes to the asylum route therefore reshape the system for a population already vulnerable to backlogs. The panic reported in Toronto reflects the gap between political announcements and the practical information lawyers can hand to clients.

CBC's reporting indicates the federal government has framed the law as a way to discourage "bad faith" claims. Refugee lawyers see a broader effect: even meritorious claimants now face a narrower door.

What remains unclear

The public materials so far do not spell out specific provisions, effective dates, or transitional rules. Lawyers say they expect clarifications from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) within days.

Claimants can track official updates on the IRCC website and through the IRB. Anyone with a pending claim should consult a licensed Canadian immigration lawyer or a recognized legal aid clinic. This article does not constitute legal advice.