Bill C-3

An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (2025)

Sponsor

Status

In committee (House), as of Sept. 22, 2025

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Summary

This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament has also written a full legislative summary of the bill.

This enactment amends the Citizenship Act to, among other things,
(a) ensure that citizenship by descent is conferred on all persons who were born outside Canada before the coming into force of this enactment to a parent who was a citizen;
(b) confer citizenship by descent on persons born outside Canada after the first generation, on or after the coming into force of this enactment, to a parent who is a citizen and who had a substantial connection to Canada before the person’s birth;
(c) allow citizenship to be granted under section 5.1 of that Act to all persons born outside Canada who were adopted before the coming into force of this enactment by a parent who was a citizen;
(d) allow citizenship to be granted under section 5.1 of that Act to persons born outside Canada who are adopted on or after the coming into force of this enactment by a parent who is a citizen and who had a substantial connection to Canada before the person’s adoption;
(e) restore citizenship to persons who lost their citizenship because they did not make an application to retain it under the former section 8 of that Act or because they made an application under that section that was not approved; and
(f) allow certain persons who become citizens as a result of the coming into force of this enactment to access a simplified process to renounce their citizenship.

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

Bill numbers are reused for different bills each new session. Perhaps you were looking for one of these other C-3s:

C-3 (2021) Law An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Canada Labour Code

C-3 (2020) Law An Act to amend the Judges Act and the Criminal Code

C-3 (2020) An Act to amend the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act and the Canada Border Services Agency Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts

C-3 (2015) Law Appropriation Act No. 4, 2015-16

Votes

Sept. 22, 2025 Passed 2nd reading of Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (2025)

Debate Summary

This is a computer-generated summary of the speeches below. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.

Bill C-3 amends the Citizenship Act to address citizenship by descent, restore citizenship to "lost Canadians," and grant citizenship to some adopted individuals. A "substantial connection" to Canada is required.

Liberal

Rectifies unconstitutional law: The bill fixes an unconstitutional problem created by the Harper government's first-generation limit on citizenship by descent, which was deemed a Charter violation by the Ontario Superior Court.
Restores citizenship for lost Canadians: It restores Canadian citizenship to those who lost it due to the repealed age 28 rule and grants citizenship to second or subsequent generations born abroad before the new law's enactment.
Defines future citizenship by descent: For future generations born abroad, citizenship by descent beyond the first generation requires the Canadian parent to prove a substantial connection, defined as three cumulative years of physical presence in Canada.
Urges speedy passage by deadline: The party stresses the bill's urgency, noting a November 2025 court deadline to implement amendments and prevent a legal gap, urging cross-party collaboration for swift enactment.

Conservative

Opposes unlimited citizenship by descent: The party opposes the bill's provision for unlimited, multi-generational citizenship by descent, criticizing the weak 1,095 non-consecutive day residency requirement and absence of criminal background checks.
Supports adopted children and lost Canadians: Conservatives support the bill's elements granting citizenship to adopted children from abroad and restoring citizenship to "lost Canadians" affected by past legislative errors.
Raises concerns about impact and costs: The party is concerned the government lacks estimates for the number of new citizens and the significant financial implications for taxpayers and social services.
Demands key amendments: Conservatives demand amendments to include a substantial, consecutive residency requirement and mandatory security vetting for all applicants to uphold citizenship integrity.

NDP

Supports bill C-3: The NDP supports Bill C-3 to correct Canada's citizenship laws, making them charter-compliant after the Harper government stripped rights for second-generation born abroad.
Addresses discriminatory impact: The bill remedies discrimination against first-generation born-abroad women, who faced difficult choices regarding family planning and their children's citizenship, as ruled unconstitutional.
Rejects conservative opposition: The NDP rejects Conservative proposals for a "criminality test" for Canadian citizenship, asserting that birthrights are not contingent on such conditions and are handled by the judicial system.

Bloc

Supports Bill C-3: The Bloc Québécois supports Bill C-3 as it corrects historical injustices and oversights in the Citizenship Act, particularly for "lost Canadians" and in response to a court ruling.
Calls for swift, non-partisan passage: The party urges swift passage of the bill after thorough study in committee, without using closure, and stresses the importance of cross-party collaboration to achieve results.
Criticizes departmental dysfunction: The Bloc criticizes the Department of Citizenship and Immigration as dysfunctional, citing long processing times and one-size-fits-all immigration policies, and calls for a comprehensive overhaul of the Citizenship Act.

Green

Supports Bill C-3 to restore citizenship: The Green Party celebrates the return of this legislation as Bill C-3, supporting its goal to redress past legislative mistakes and restore citizenship to "lost Canadians" in a Charter-compliant manner.
Calls for proper committee review: The party advocates for thorough committee hearings to address concerns, consult experts, and ensure the bill is properly scrutinized rather than rushed through Parliament.
Proposes citizenship as a right: Elizabeth May suggests adding an amendment to Bill C-3 to explicitly state that Canadian citizenship is a fundamental right, protecting it from arbitrary actions by those in power.

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Citizenship ActGovernment Orders

September 19th, 2025 / 10:55 a.m.

The Deputy Speaker Tom Kmiec

If a member participating in person wishes that the motion be carried or carried on division, or if a member of a recognized party participating in person wishes to request a recorded division, I would invite them to rise and indicate it to the Chair.

Citizenship ActGovernment Orders

September 19th, 2025 / 10:55 a.m.

Liberal

Arielle Kayabaga Liberal London West, ON

Mr. Speaker, we would like a recorded vote.

Citizenship ActGovernment Orders

September 19th, 2025 / 11 a.m.

The Deputy Speaker Tom Kmiec

Pursuant to Standing Order 45, the recorded division stands deferred until Monday, September 22, at the expiry of the time provided for Oral Questions.

The House resumed from September 19 consideration of the motion that Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act, be read the second time and referred to a committee.

Citizenship ActGovernment Orders

September 22nd, 2025 / 3:20 p.m.

The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia

The House will now proceed to the taking of the deferred recorded division on the motion at the second reading stage of Bill C-3.

(The House divided on the motion, which was agreed to on the following division:)

Vote #36

Citizenship ActGovernment Orders

September 22nd, 2025 / 3:30 p.m.

The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia

I declare the motion carried.

Accordingly, the bill stands referred to the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration.

(Bill read the second time and referred to a committee)

I wish to inform the House that because of the ministerial statement and the deferred recorded divisions, the time provided for Government Orders will be extended by 24 minutes.