The House of Commons immigration committee has recommended that most adults eligible for birthright citizenship under the “Lost Canadians” bill meet similar criteria as immigrant applicants regarding language proficiency, knowledge of Canadian history, and security checks. Members of Parliament on the committee approved amendments to Bill C-3 on Tuesday, which will now proceed to the House of Commons for final approval.
This bill is a response to a 2023 Ontario Superior Court decision that overturned a law from the Stephen Harper era, which had prevented Canadians born abroad from passing on citizenship if their children were not born in Canada. The proposed legislation suggests that citizenship can be passed down in such cases if the individual can demonstrate a significant connection to Canada by spending a minimum of 1,095 cumulative days (equivalent to three years) in the country.
Conservative amendments have been made to include language and other requirements, along with a stipulation that the 1,095 days must be within a continuous five-year period. The government faces a court-imposed deadline to enact the legislation by midnight on November 21. Failure to do so could result in an unspecified number of individuals automatically acquiring Canadian citizenship.
