Maple News reports that the Canadian federal government is once again delaying changes to the Citizenship Act, missing a court-mandated deadline to address the controversial second-generation cut-off for citizenship by descent.
The delay comes after Governor General Mary Simon prorogued Parliament until March 24, 2025, pushing legislative reform beyond the extended deadline of March 19, 2025. As a result, the federal government will be unable to implement changes required by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, which declared the second-generation restriction unconstitutional in December 2023.
Currently, the law prevents Canadian citizens who were themselves born abroad and acquired citizenship by descent from passing on Canadian citizenship to their foreign-born children. This restriction applies regardless of how long these citizens have lived in Canada, and it does not affect Canadians who were born in the country or became citizens through naturalization.
The court had originally given the federal government six months—until June 2024—to amend the Citizenship Act. However, the deadline has been extended three times, most recently due to political developments, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation announcement and the subsequent prorogation of Parliament.
For so-called “lost Canadians,” individuals potentially eligible for citizenship but excluded due to the current law, the delay means further uncertainty and hardship. Legal experts and immigration advocates argue that the law unfairly penalizes Canadians who have chosen or been required to live abroad for work, education, or family reasons.
In an attempt to address the issue, the government introduced Bill C-71 in May 2024. The proposed legislation would grant Canadian citizenship to second-generation children born abroad, provided their Canadian parent has spent at least 1,095 days (approximately three years) physically present in Canada before the child’s birth or adoption. However, with Parliament suspended, progress on the bill has stalled.
Maple News has learned that unless swift action is taken once Parliament reconvenes, thousands of families may continue to endure legal and emotional limbo. The delay also raises broader concerns about Canada’s commitment to upholding the rights of citizens across generations and geographic borders.
Despite government intentions, the missed deadline further complicates the path for many families seeking clarity and justice under Canadian citizenship law. Stakeholders now await Parliamentary activity in Spring 2025 for any legislative movement.