STATEMENT ON BILL C-2 AND THE IMPACT OF GLOBAL CONFLICTS ON STUDENTS

In recent years, we have witnessed a rise in global violence, civil unrest, student and community protests and widespread violations of human and civil rights all amid shifting political landscapes. In this time, we have also seen a massive rise in community solidarity . Students and community leaders and students have taken to the streets to defend their values and rights to freedom of speech and expression, their rights to live and a right to feel safe, protected by their own elected representatives and leaders.Still, for every step forward, it often feels like we are met with several steps back. Despite this, the student movement remains resilient and will continue to push forward in the fight for justice and liberation

On June 3rd, 2025, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government introduced Bill C-2, also known as, the Strong Borders Act. The Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) stands firmly against the erosion of civil liberties and student rights proposed through Bill C-2, the federal government’s latest attempt to expand surveillance and policing powers under the guise of public safety and national security. At a time of global unrest with students and families feeling unsafe, monitored and targeted.

Bill C-2 is a threat to students, dissent, and democratic rights.

This bill proposes to significantly broaden the powers of law enforcement and intelligence agencies, undermining the rights to protest, organize, and speak out—especially for marginalized communities. For students—particularly international students, racialized students, and those engaged in political organizing—this legislation poses a chilling threat. 

We have already witnessed the disproportionate surveillance and criminalization of student protestors standing in solidarity with Palestine and calling for divestment from war and occupation. This bill would deepen that repression and set a dangerous precedent for the suppression of political engagement on our campuses and communities alike.

Bill C-2 opens the door to warrantless  access to medical records, hotels and abortion clinics, a clear infringement of privacy and bodily autonomy. This legislation directly endangers  survivors of domestic and sexual violence who rely on clinics and shelters as the backbone of safety, discretion and privacy.  By stripping away these protections, the government sends a chilling message:  that even the most vulnerable are no longer safe. If survivors can’t count on privacy, who among us truly can? 

The impacts of global wars and genocide are felt in our classrooms, communities, and homes.

As violence continues to displace, traumatize, and marginalize people around the world, students are not immune. International students from affected regions are navigating impossible conditions—grappling with grief, fear, and uncertainty while being forced to pay exorbitant fees, meet rigid visa conditions, and cope with the silence or complicity of institutions. The lack of affordable housing, mental health supports, and legal protections only worsens the crisis.

Meanwhile, students organizing in solidarity face institutional backlash, media vilification, and community threats. We cannot speak of equity, safety, or inclusion in higher education while ignoring the global forces of imperialism, militarism, and settler colonialism that shape our learning environments and lived experiences.

We call for:

1. The immediate withdrawal of Bill C-2. We urge all students, faculty, and allies to contact their Members of Parliament and demand the rejection of this bill and any attempt to criminalize dissent.
   
   
2. Protection of student protest and political organizing. Post-secondary institutions must affirm their commitment to academic freedom, protect students facing repression, and end all partnerships complicit in war, surveillance, and occupation.
   
   
3. Support and safety for international students. This includes mental health services, emergency funding, visa flexibility, and pathways to permanent residency for students from war-affected regions.
   
   
4. Divestment from war and militarism. Canadian universities must end ties with weapons manufacturers, military research, and companies complicit in occupation and displacement.
   
   
5. Cross-campus solidarity and mobilization. We call on student unions, campus groups, and grassroots movements to mobilize in collective resistance—through teach-ins, demonstrations, petitions, and lobbying efforts.

Take Action

1. Send a letter to your MP: Migrant Workers Alliance has created a petition targeted towards the office of your MPs. Defend your Status today
2. Send a message to PM Carney: Join thousands of individuals and send a direct message to Prime Minister Mark Carney. Migrants are the backbone of the Canadian economy and deserve to be heard and protected.

In this moment of global crisis, we as students refuse to stand by - we are not bystanders —we are the movement. We will not be silenced. We will  not be criminalized. Together, we resist repression, we stand unwavering in our fight for justice, and we demand a future rooted in liberation, dignity, and peace.

The students globally united, will never be defeated!

In Solidarity,

The Canadian Federation of Students