Evidence of meeting #56 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was citizenship.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:40 p.m.
Founder and Head, Lost Canadians
Absolutely.
Think about it. If you're Irish, you have the right to Irish citizenship. If you're Israeli, you have the right to Israeli citizenship. It doesn't mean you're a citizen.
If two Canadian parents have a child born in the United States, that child is not Canadian until they apply and get it. Just because you have a right, it doesn't mean you are....
5:40 p.m.
Executive Director, Canadian Citizens Rights Council
In addition, there are countries I mentioned, before, as examples, where, if you voluntarily apply for another citizenship, you will lose your citizenship. Anyone who comes by multiple citizenship through their parents and has family in more than one country would lose the ability to see them and lose their rights.
That is a much bigger issue to be concerned about, when we talk about unintended consequences.
5:40 p.m.
Founder and Head, Lost Canadians
The other thing is that citizenship is not a right in Canada. It's a privilege. Anybody at this table could have their citizenship taken. I've dealt with members of Parliament who, all of a sudden, showed up one day and they weren't Canadian anymore.
5:40 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Salma Zahid
I'm sorry for interrupting, Ms. Kwan, but your time is up.
With that, this panel comes to an end. On behalf of the members of this committee, I want to thank all the witnesses for appearing before the committee and providing their input on this important legislation.
The meeting is adjourned.
