Evidence of meeting #5 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was c-3.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dzerowicz
Thank you, Mr. Davies.
Our next questioner will be Ms. Zahid.
You have two minutes.
Liberal
Salma Zahid Liberal Scarborough Centre—Don Valley East, ON
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Mr. Chapman, we have been hearing a lot about the term “lost Canadians”. Can you please explain more about what that really means and some of the real people who have found themselves in that category of “lost Canadians”?
M.S.C., Lost Canadians
Yes. I very quickly want to make and clarify one comment here. You don't get citizenship for being here for 1,095 days. If you're here for 1,095 days and you're a Canadian, that means that you have the right to confer citizenship to your child. You don't just get to show up, live here and get it. That's an immigrant.
I made up the name “lost Canadians” years ago. Governments don't tend to say, “Look, if you go look under that rock over there, you're going to discover some dirt on our country.” All I knew at the time was that I wasn't Canadian. Then the Internet came out. I put it out there, and people started contacting me. Then we discovered a lot of ways that Canada had been stripping people of their citizenship. For example, here's one that's coming: When did citizenship begin? Well, the government says it began in 1947, but it didn't; it began with Confederation.
There are all kinds of ways, we've discovered, so we've just been categorically calling people like that “lost Canadians”. That's how it came about.
Liberal
Salma Zahid Liberal Scarborough Centre—Don Valley East, ON
As we all know, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice has ruled on this issue and allowed for an extension until November 20 for a legislative solution. Could you speak to why it is important that this bill be passed as soon as possible?
M.S.C., Lost Canadians
It's because it just opens the floodgates after November 20.
It is interesting to note that prior to Bill C-37, there was no generational limit on citizenship. It had been that way for 146 years, I believe, and Canada was opening the door for immigration, so we've already had unlimited generational citizenship. Bill C-3 does not do that; it just corrects an unconstitutional part.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dzerowicz
Thank you, Mr. Chapman.
Thank you, Ms. Zahid.
Mr. Brunelle‑Duceppe, you have the floor for two minutes.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you to all the witnesses. We had very different opinions and they gave us a lot of relevant information to help us make an informed choice.
Officials from the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer, you told us that you estimated the cost of implementing the bill at $20.8 million, which takes into account the verification of 1,095 days of residence, among other things.
Earlier, I raised the fact that before 2019, exits from Canadian territory weren't tracked by the Canadian government. Even today, even for international flights, it's not necessarily sent directly to the government.
Have you taken that variable into account? If not, do you think it will be even more tedious to verify the 1,095 days of residence?
Director, Economic Analysis, Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer
No, that wasn't taken into account. We haven't been given many details. So that's a very good question, and I think it should be taken into consideration, but I can't answer you.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Okay.
Unfortunately, that kind of thing sometimes isn't considered when there are a number of files to manage at the same time. Could that be taken into account in a future analysis by the Parliamentary Budget Officer?
Interim Parliamentary Budget Officer, Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer
Yes, absolutely. If there's a request or a motion from your committee on that, we'd be happy to revise our estimate. We're here to support you. You're our clients.
Liberal
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dzerowicz
Okay, so we're making that request, Monsieur Jacques.
You have 10 seconds left.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Thank you.
I'll give you the rest of my time, Mr. Chapman, to make a final comment.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dzerowicz
With that, I'm sorry, but it's over.
Thank you, Mr. Brunelle‑Duceppe.
I want to say a warm thank you to all of you for your excellent interventions and for all of your contributions to this very important legislation.
Our next meeting will be on Tuesday, October 7, for the clause-by-clause study of Bill C-3.
Any amendments must be submitted to the clerk by noon tomorrow, Friday, October 3.
Since it is the end of our meeting time, this meeting is adjourned.