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Marc Miller Introduced a New Canadian Citizenship Legislation (Bill C-71)

Unveiling good news for Canadians who await Canadian citizenship from outside Canada the bill which is intended to amend the Citizenship Act has been passed in the House of Commons. The bill titled Bill C-71: An Act to Amend the Citizenship Act (2024) was introduced in the House by the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Marc Miller on Thursday, 23 May 2024. This act which unveils a new Canadian citizenship logistics is supposed to be a relief for some second-generation Canadians born outside Canada and Canadians who have lost citizenship due to a convoluted Citizenship Act.

The highlight of this bill is that it stands to clear many anomalies that existed in the Citizenship Act. More importantly, it is intended to reverse the consequences of the 2009 amendment enacted by the then-conservative government. It has been a heated debate in the political sphere of Canada more than the ones triggered by Canada Skilled Migration. The following sections are intended to give a better picture of this new legislation.

Bill C-71: A Birds Eye View

Benefits the Lost Canadians

There is a concept called “Lost Canadians” in the citizenship realm of Canada. This refers to Canadians who have lost or failed to acquire citizenship as a result of intricacies within the Citizenship Act of Canada.

Even though many of this category have got citizenship through the previous amendments including the 2009 amendment there were still a lot of people who remained in the shadows. This new bill has the potential to automatically give them citizenship

Removes “First Generation Limit”

This is a concept laid down by the 2009 amendments of the conservatives. According to this amendment, citizenship was issued to Canadians born outside Canada only if their parents had been born in Canada or had been naturalized before their birth. This took away citizenship from many Canadians who were born outside Canada and whose parents were also born outside Canada.

Fortunately, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice struck down the provision as unconstitutional back on December 19, 2023. The Minister of IRCC also agreed with this repeal. This is exactly what is reflected in the new Canadian citizenship logistics.

By removing the first-generation limit the bill seeks to give citizenship to this category of “Lost Canadians”.

The changes introduced in this direction include:

Automatic award of citizenship to Canadians born outside Canada before this law comes into force, to Canadians who have also been born outside Canada.
Direct issuance of citizenship for adopted Canadians who are born outside Canada and are adopted before this law comes into force, by parents who are also born out of Canada.
In the case of second generation who belong to the above two categories, but are born after the law comes into force, the first generation parents will have to prove substantial connection with Canada. This means they should have resided in the country for a total of 3 years or 1,095 days before the children are born or adopted.

Conclusion

It is expected that this new Canadian citizenship logistics will change the lives of many Canadians who live abroad. Trenity Consultants being the leading immigration consultant in Canada is also open with all ears to these latest developments through IRCC.