Thank you, Mr. Chair.
My amendment is deemed to have been made through the mysterious process that moves without my volition. I am presenting this amendment in a further effort to repair what has already been discussed around this table as being a concern, the intent to reside provision.
My amendment would amend clause 12 by adding, after line 32, a new subsection, which would say the following:
(1.01) The onus is on the Minister to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the citizenship judge that, on a balance of probabilities, the person lacks the intention referred to
in previous subparagraphs.
So this is a further safeguard. One might say that this is only for purposes of greater certainty that the minister has the onus of proof and it is not placed on a citizenship applicant or citizen to show that he or she does not intend to reside in Canada. This would ensure that the power is not used in an arbitrary fashion; or rather, it would help to ensure that the provision is not used in an arbitrary fashion.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.