The House of Commons immigration committee has put forth recommendations for adults eligible for birthright citizenship under the “Lost Canadians” bill to meet criteria similar to immigrant applicants, including language proficiency, knowledge of Canadian history, and security checks. The committee members approved amendments to Bill C-3 on Tuesday, which will now require approval from the House of Commons.
The bill is a response to a recent Ontario Superior Court ruling in 2023 that overturned a law from the Stephen Harper era. This law had prevented Canadians born abroad from passing on citizenship if their children were not born in Canada.
Under the proposed legislation, individuals can pass down citizenship if they can prove a strong connection to Canada by spending a minimum of 1,095 cumulative days (equivalent to three years) in the country. The amendments introduced by the Conservatives also include language and other requirements, along with a stipulation that the 1,095 days must be within five consecutive years.
The government is under pressure to meet a court-mandated deadline to pass the bill before midnight on Nov. 21. Failure to do so could result in an unspecified number of individuals automatically becoming Canadian citizens.