Citizenship and Immigration Committee on Oct. 2nd, 2025

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Again, the answer, to be clear, is that Canadians who are born citizens by descent are not required to take one.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

I'm not sure you fully understand this, but the law that we are debating here, that we're talking about, is going to do.... We have the option to create it however we want. We could choose to create it to say that these people have to have tests. You're saying that you don't want that, that it's not something that's important to you as a minister, as a government.

It's the same with the security checks. You're saying that it's not important, if you have a person trying to obtain citizenship through this process who's over 18, that they have a security check.

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

The bill is drafted to take into consideration the charter and the Constitution, but it's also consistent with the 2009 law as well.

[Brad Redekopp, Conservative, Saskatoon West, SK]

This is reasonable, then. Not having security checks and allowing terrorists into the country through this is potentially okay with you.

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

That's exactly what I didn't say.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

Thank you, Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Redekopp.

We'll now go to Ms. Salma Zahid for two and a half minutes.

[Salma Zahid, Liberal, Scarborough Centre—Don Valley East, ON]

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you to the minister and all the officials for appearing before this committee on this important legislation about lost Canadians.

Minister, today we have heard a lot about language tests, citizenship tests and the Canadian values test. Could you please explain the difference between birthright citizenship and citizenship by naturalization, and how birthright citizenship is a right and not a gift?

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

You are right; it is a right. That is exactly why we're here today. It's to make right what had been wrong and to grant citizenship to people who have the right to have it.

Just for more clarity, why I don't get one of the officials to also comment on that?

[Uyen Hoang]

Bill C-3 does not include any requirements, as you have pointed out, for individuals who become citizens by descent to pass security or criminality screenings, or to pass a language or knowledge test.

What we're talking about is Canadians who were born Canadian citizens. They are considered to be citizens by descent. Citizens by descent currently do not have to undergo any of these tests.

Furthermore, most of those who were excluded from citizenship because of the first-generation limit are those born after 2009, when it came into force. This means you're looking at a cohort that is largely minors—16 and under—if this bill comes into force this year. They are generally deemed lower risk for security and criminality purposes.

Citizens born after the bill comes into force are essentially newborns or very young children when their parents apply for their proof of citizenship. These babies or young children do not pose a security risk in becoming citizens.

Similarly, Canadians who are born citizens by descent are not required to demonstrate their official capacity for knowledge of Canada. On principle, this cohort of citizens by descent should not be subject to such requirements as well. This is consistent with the changes we made in 2009 and 2015.

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

Thank you so much, Ms. Hoang. Thank you so much, Ms. Zahid.

Next up is Mr. Brunelle‑Duceppe.

You have two and a half minutes.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Minister, every department is experiencing budget cuts. In fact, your Prime Minister has asked all ministers to reduce spending in their departments. However, here we have a bill that would add between 150,000 and one million applications to be processed. That's not counting the 1,095 days of residence we talked about earlier, which also needs to be verified. It seems to me to be a rather tedious task, ultimately, with what we've learned today.

Do you have the resources? You're already behind the processing times in all the other programs, but now one is going to be added. It's fine if you have the necessary resources, but I think more resources are needed.

Have you calculated the administrative costs of implementing Bill C‑3, as well as the number of additional people it will take?

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

I thank the member for his excellent question.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

I always have good questions.

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

IRCC is ready to process proof of citizenship applications with our existing resources within our dedicated citizenship team.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

So there are no plans to add any resources to IRCC, even if Bill C‑3 is passed?

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

With respect to this bill, the department has said no.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Resources aren't being added, but there may be a million more applications to process, not to mention the 1,095 days of residence to be verified. You're telling us that you don't need additional resources, when you're behind in all the other IRCC programs.

Did I understand correctly?

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Yes, but I'll let Ms. Scott confirm that.

[Catherine Scott]

We've received 4,200 applications in the last 19 months. Looking ahead, the department believes it has the resources within its dedicated citizenship team to process the number of applications it expects to receive.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

How can you be sure that you will have the capacity to process applications if you're unable to tell me how many people will be affected by Bill C‑3?

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

Based on the records they have received—

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

They say it could affect a million people.

[Lena Metlege Diab, Liberal, Halifax West, NS]

No, it's not a million people.

It's tens of thousands, not a million.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

No? So there's been a change of opinion on the number of one million people—

[The Chair, Liberal, Julie Dzerowicz]

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Minister and Mr. Brunelle‑Duceppe.

One hour goes by very, very quickly.

Thank you, Minister and officials, for your time. Thank you for being here. Thank you for your patience. Thank you for answering all the questions.

We will suspend for five to 10 minutes so that our current witnesses can leave and we can get the second panel set up.

Thank you.