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
Conservative
Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB
Would you accept an amendment to make people take a citizenship test via this bill, yes or no?
Liberal
Lena Metlege Diab Liberal Halifax West, NS
It's not up to me to accept or reject. These are the committee's findings. I was on a committee in the last Parliament.
Conservative
Liberal
Lena Metlege Diab Liberal Halifax West, NS
Again, we've done a jurisdictional scan, and officials are happy to give you what many other countries around the globe have in reference to this.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dzerowicz
That's five minutes.
Thank you, Minister.
Thank you, Ms. Rempel Garner.
We'll go to our next questioner, Ms. Amandeep Sodhi, for five minutes.
Liberal
Amandeep Sodhi Liberal Brampton Centre, ON
Thank you to the witnesses.
Thank you, Minister, for being here today.
My question is for you, Minister. Can you please elaborate on how Bill C-3 specifically addresses Canadian citizenship issues rather than immigration policy?
Liberal
Lena Metlege Diab Liberal Halifax West, NS
What we have here is that the current first-generation limit to citizenship no longer reflects how Canadian families live today and the values that define our country, so the government introduced Bill C-3 to extend citizenship by descent in a way that balances fair access and protects the value of Canadian citizenship.
We believe we have struck a balance in this bill and have put reasonable limits on citizenship. Going forward, Bill C-3 would allow the child of a Canadian parent born or adopted abroad with substantial connection to Canada to acquire citizenship if the child is born abroad, and the child would also have access to the direct grant of citizenship if the child is adopted abroad.
The bill addresses, again, the standing issue of the term we've heard, the “lost Canadians”, who are those who have lost or never acquired citizenship under former citizenship laws. It would restore citizenship to the remaining lost Canadians and provide access to citizenship for their descendants.
If you would like a bit more, that's why officials are with me today for the first hour.
Liberal
Amandeep Sodhi Liberal Brampton Centre, ON
Okay, that's perfect.
Once again, to reiterate the urgency of passing this legislation, could either one of you please let the committee know what the consequences are for Canadians if Bill C-3 is not passed before the deadline?
Liberal
Lena Metlege Diab Liberal Halifax West, NS
The reason we are here is that we are under a limit. As I said, on December 19, 2023, the court declared that parts of the bill were unconstitutional.
As a result, the department had special measures from January 2024 forward, with the expectation of a certain bill that would be implemented. We are here today with the legislation. We believe we've put a substantial connection test in there of 1,095 days to provide clarity to people and families and to protect the value of Canadian citizenship, ensuring that those who have been waiting for years have the citizenship they are looking and waiting for.
Liberal
Amandeep Sodhi Liberal Brampton Centre, ON
Minister, why do you think it's important to limit citizenship by descent?
Liberal
Lena Metlege Diab Liberal Halifax West, NS
Again, that's why we have a limit of 1,095. We believe that it's important for people to show there is a connection to Canada. Again, officers will assess that connection, as they've been doing every day. In every single file, that happens. We believe it's a reasonable limit, but it's also there to protect the value of our Canadian citizenship.
Liberal
Amandeep Sodhi Liberal Brampton Centre, ON
How does Bill C-3 impact who is recognized as a Canadian citizen as opposed to who is allowed to immigrate to Canada?
Liberal
Lena Metlege Diab Liberal Halifax West, NS
With immigration to Canada, obviously people apply to immigrate to Canada. There are many pathways, such as federal programs, provincial programs and territorial programs. It's very different. This gives the right of citizenship to people who have lost it and who should have had it, and it deals with it on a go-forward basis.
Officials, if you'd like to add anything on that to clarify anything else, please let me know.
Liberal
Amandeep Sodhi Liberal Brampton Centre, ON
I think I'm good, Madam Chair. There won't be enough time for another answer.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dzerowicz
Thank you so much, Ms. Sodhi.
Colleagues, we have just over seven minutes left in this first hour. Can I suggest maybe two and a half minutes for each of the parties? Is that okay, two and a half minutes for Mr. Menegakis, two and a half minutes for Ms. Zahid and then two and a half minutes for Mr. Brunelle-Duceppe? Yes, that's perfect.
Oh, it's Mr. Redekopp.
We'll do two and a half minutes for Mr. Redekopp, please.
Conservative
Brad Redekopp Conservative Saskatoon West, SK
Thank you, Chair.
I know that the courts told you that you had to change this law, but they didn't tell you how to change it. The “how” part is up to you, Minister, and the government.
My question for you is this: Is it reasonable—is it the right thing to do—to not include a requirement for people to have one of our two official languages? Is that the right thing to do, in your opinion, in this bill? I'm speaking specifically about people who are going to be over the age of 18 who would be affected by this bill.
Liberal
Lena Metlege Diab Liberal Halifax West, NS
As I said, the purpose of the bill is to return citizenship to people who have lost it and should have had it already.
Conservative
Liberal
Lena Metlege Diab Liberal Halifax West, NS
Canadians who are born citizens by descent are not required to demonstrate official language capacity.
Conservative
Brad Redekopp Conservative Saskatoon West, SK
You believe that's reasonable.
Do you think the same thing is true about those same people over the age of 18 getting citizenship without a citizenship test? Give a yes or no, please.
Liberal
Lena Metlege Diab Liberal Halifax West, NS
Citizens who are eligible do not right now get a citizenship test. I wish they did. We should have civics classes.
Conservative
Brad Redekopp Conservative Saskatoon West, SK
Are you saying that people who are applying for citizenship do not have to do a citizenship test? Is that what you just said?
Liberal
Conservative
Brad Redekopp Conservative Saskatoon West, SK
I'm talking about people applying for citizenship through this pathway who are over the age of 18. Do you think it's reasonable that they should not have to do a citizenship test?