Maple News reports that key amendments have been approved for Bill C-3, a proposed Canadian law aimed at restoring citizenship rights to so-called ‘Lost Canadians’—individuals excluded from citizenship due to historical legislative gaps. The federal government faces a strict deadline of November 21, following a 2023 Ontario Superior Court ruling that struck down the ‘first-generation limit.’ This restriction previously prevented Canadians born abroad from automatically passing down citizenship to their similarly foreign-born children.
The core objective of Bill C-3 is to eliminate the first-generation cut-off and extend citizenship to those who would have qualified if not for outdated provisions. However, recent amendments introduced by the House of Commons immigration committee add new obligations before parents can pass Canadian citizenship to children born overseas. One major requirement is demonstrating a ‘substantial connection’ to Canada—defined as a minimum of 1,095 days (or three cumulative years) of physical presence in the country. The amendments now stipulate that these days must fall within the five years leading up to the child’s birth or adoption.
Additionally, adults applying for citizenship under the new provisions will now be subject to stricter criteria. Applicants between the ages of 18 and 55 must prove proficiency in either English or French and pass a knowledge test on Canadian history, values, rights, and responsibilities—requirements aligned with the standard naturalization pathway used by immigrants. All adults aged 18 and above will also be required to undergo security and criminality screenings.
While these changes aim to preserve the integrity and consistency of Canadian citizenship laws, they have sparked concerns among advocates and families—especially those who have adopted children from abroad. Many argue that such children, though raised entirely in Canada and integrated into its culture and society, could unfairly face obstacles when seeking to extend citizenship to their own foreign-born offspring in the future.
A significant transparency measure has also been added: the Minister of Immigration must now report annually to Parliament on citizenship grants made through these revised provisions. This addition ensures that Parliament maintains oversight of how these newly eligible individuals are being integrated into the Canadian legal framework.
If Bill C-3 fails to pass by the court-imposed deadline, the legal nullification of the first-generation limit could lead to unintended consequences. Citizenship may be automatically conferred to eligible individuals, but without the structured requirements Parliament aims to set—raising questions around oversight and equality.
As debate continues in Parliament and moves next to the Senate, the stakes remain high. The bill is about not only correcting past exclusions but also setting the tone for future generations of Canadians born beyond the country’s borders.