The federal government is seeking new powers to cancel large groups of visa applications — a move partly driven by concerns over alleged fraud originating from India and Bangladesh, according to internal government documents obtained by CBC News.

A departmental presentation to the immigration minister’s office revealed that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), and unnamed U.S. partners have formed a working group to identify and cancel fraudulent visitor visa applications.

The documents describe India and Bangladesh as presenting “country-specific challenges” and propose “mass visa cancellation powers” that could be used in scenarios such as a pandemic, war, or for certain country-specific visa groups.

Publicly, Immigration Minister Lena Diab has cited emergencies like pandemics or conflicts as justification for seeking the new authority, but the internal documents suggest a broader motivation, including tackling regional fraud.

The proposed measure is contained within Bill C-12, part of the government’s broader border management reforms. Originally tabled as Bill C-2, the legislation was later divided into two parts, with the visa cancellation provision folded into C-12.

More than 300 civil society organizations have voiced concern over the proposal, warning that it could enable arbitrary visa cancellations and even “mass deportations.” Advocacy groups such as the Migrant Rights Network have urged greater transparency and oversight.

Some immigration lawyers have also speculated that the government’s push for these powers may be aimed at reducing Canada’s mounting backlog of visa and immigration applications.