Maple News reports that the Canadian federal government has been granted additional time to solidify key legislative changes to the Citizenship Act that could dramatically expand access to citizenship rights for Canadians born abroad.
The Ontario Superior Court of Justice has extended the deadline for the passage of Bill C-3—a piece of legislation aimed at eliminating the controversial First-Generation Limit (FGL) on Canadian citizenship—by two months. The new deadline is now set for January 20, 2026, moving from the previously scheduled November 20, 2025.
The First-Generation Limit, introduced in 2009, restricts Canadian citizens born abroad from passing on their citizenship to their own children also born outside of Canada. In 2023, this rule was ruled unconstitutional by the Ontario Superior Court, prompting the need for legislative reform.
Bill C-3, officially titled “An Act to amend the Citizenship Act,” seeks to rectify this issue, allowing more Canadians to confer their citizenship to their children, regardless of where those children are born. This change would significantly impact Canadian families living overseas and dual nationals concerned about their children’s entitlement to citizenship.
Though the deadline extension allows the government more time, progress on the bill has been notable. As of now, Bill C-3 has successfully passed all three necessary readings in the House of Commons, as well as two out of three required readings in the Senate. It is currently under review by the Senate Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology (SOCI), where members may propose amendments.
Justice Akbarali, in approving the new deadline, acknowledged the federal government’s “significant progress” and stated there is a “reasonable expectation that the replacement legislation may come into force by the end of 2025,” ahead of the court-imposed deadline.
Once Bill C-3 clears the final Senate reading and receives Royal Assent, it will officially become law, effectively expanding the rights of Canadian parents to pass on citizenship abroad. Unless amendments are proposed in the Senate or returned to the House, the bill could be enacted without further delay.
Maple News will continue to track the progress of Bill C-3 and report developments that affect the global Canadian diaspora and families impacted by the current limitations in citizenship laws.