News Release: Senate Passes Signature Government Citizenship Bill that Facilitates Citizenship and Protects Charter Rights

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE –

Senators voted today to pass Bill C-6, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act and to make consequential amendments to another Act, a signature government bill that facilitates citizenship and protects Charter rights.

Senator Ratna Omidvar, independent Senator representing Ontario and longtime advocate for immigrant and refugee inclusion, sponsored Bill C-6 in the Senate.

“This bill will make it possible for many immigrants to become citizens sooner rather than later. This is a good thing for Canada and a good thing for immigrants,” Senator Omidvar said. “Citizenship is the right from which all other rights flow.”

Bill C-6 returns to the House of Commons with three amendments passed by Senators. On the day she introduced the bill in the Senate, Senator Omidvar said “this is a good bill, but it is not a perfect bill.”

One significant improvement is a Senate amendment that creates due process for citizens who face losing their Canadian citizenship because of allegations of fraud or misrepresentation. Without this amendment, Canadians face an unjust administrative process and fewer safeguards than anyone wishing to challenge a parking ticket.

Senator Omidvar encouraged Members of Parliament to accept this critical improvement and restore due process for all Canadian citizens regardless of background or immigration status, in the spirit and principle of the bill.

Some of the major changes introduced by Bill C-6 include:

–          Repealing the authority to revoke the citizenship of dual citizens on national interest grounds;

–          Repealing the requirement for citizenship applicants to declare an intent to reside in Canada;

–          Reinstating three out of five years of physical presence as a requirement to obtain citizenship;

–          Reinstating residency credit for temporary residents wishing to obtain citizenship; and

–          Reinstating reduced age requirements to meet language and knowledge criteria to obtain citizenship.

For further information, please contact:

Stephanie Saunders
Office of Senator Ratna Omidvar
613-943-4330