The House of Commons immigration committee has put forward recommendations for adults who qualify for birthright citizenship under the “Lost Canadians” bill to meet requirements similar to those for immigrant applicants, including language proficiency, knowledge of Canadian history, and security checks. Members of Parliament on the committee made amendments to Bill C-3 on Tuesday, which will need to be approved by the House of Commons.
The bill is a response to a 2023 Ontario Superior Court decision that overturned a law from the Stephen Harper era, preventing Canadians born abroad from passing on citizenship if their children were not born in Canada. The proposed legislation suggests that citizenship can be inherited if an individual can show a strong connection to Canada by spending a minimum of 1,095 cumulative days (equivalent to three years) in the country.
Conservative amendments have introduced language and other criteria, along with a stipulation that the 1,095 days must be completed within five consecutive years. The government faces a court-imposed deadline of November 21 to pass the bill; otherwise, officials warn that an unspecified number of individuals will automatically acquire Canadian citizenship.
