Human Resources Committee on Dec. 14th, 2010

[Nicole Girard]

The parents have the option, if they're planning to return to Canada to live, of sponsoring the child for permanent residence in Canada. Once the child becomes a permanent resident in Canada there's no waiting period; they can immediately apply for citizenship.

[Maurice Vellacott, Conservative, Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK]

Is it a quick process to sponsor that child for permanent residence in Canada? How long does it take?

[Nicole Girard]

Those cases are treated on a priority basis by the department.

[Maurice Vellacott, Conservative, Saskatoon—Wanuskewin, SK]

Does it take a year?

[Rénald Gilbert]

It would probably take much less than a year. The sponsorship process currently takes about 40 days. After the submission of the application it would go. The first priority is for minor children and spouses.

[The Chair, Conservative, Candice Bergen]

Ms. Beaudin, you have the floor.

[Josée Beaudin, Bloc, Saint-Lambert, QC]

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

At the risk of having you repeat what you said, I want to check some information. There is the regular immigration process and there is the direct route to citizenship. Bill C-14 facilitated the direct route to citizenship for parents who adopt a child. Is that correct?

I am going back to some of the testimony we heard from parents who were very happy with Bill C-14 in the end and are not opting for the direct route to citizenship.

What is the benefit of going through the regular immigration process? Is this the additional option that they have and that you referred to earlier?

[Rénald Gilbert]

There are two or three benefits to going through the immigration process.

[Josée Beaudin, Bloc, Saint-Lambert, QC]

Yes.

[Rénald Gilbert]

The potential benefits include the possibility of passing on citizenship to the second generation.

[Josée Beaudin, Bloc, Saint-Lambert, QC]

And there are all the others as well.

You say that the people who choose to go through the regular immigration process—to acquire citizenship through the regular process—can pass on their citizenship to any children they have or adopt abroad.

[Rénald Gilbert]

Yes.

[Josée Beaudin, Bloc, Saint-Lambert, QC]

I get the impression that many parents adopting a child take this route. They have told us they often have difficulty obtaining citizenship for their children once they are here.

[Rénald Gilbert]

There is no waiting period, as my colleague was saying. It is an issue of time because many requests are received, but there are no... When you say they have difficulty, I am not sure—

[Josée Beaudin, Bloc, Saint-Lambert, QC]

Do you have any statistics on the number of parents who adopt a child through regular channels?

[Rénald Gilbert]

Last year, in 2009, there were 2,100 foreign adoptions.

[Josée Beaudin, Bloc, Saint-Lambert, QC]

How many Canadian parents chose applying for citizenship over immigration?

[Rénald Gilbert]

There are 1,300 who chose citizenship. As far as immigration is concerned, it is not necessarily a choice. A number of people do not have a choice in part because they are permanent residents and can therefore not transfer citizenship. There are also certain countries that do not allow adoption in their country. The child therefore has to come to Canada and the adoption process has to be completed in Canada. This is true in quite a number of countries.

[Josée Beaudin, Bloc, Saint-Lambert, QC]

Parents seem to have difficulty obtaining citizenship at times. If they do not get it, they do not have the right of appeal. Is that correct? Can you elaborate on that?

[Rénald Gilbert]

I will come back to that again... Are you talking about the immigration process or citizenship?

[Josée Beaudin, Bloc, Saint-Lambert, QC]

The immigration process.

[Rénald Gilbert]

Under the immigration process, the right of appeal is automatic for all family class cases, including these cases.

[Josée Beaudin, Bloc, Saint-Lambert, QC]

Okay. And what happens in the case of citizenship?

[Rénald Gilbert]

In the case of citizenship, there is recourse to the Federal Court.

[Josée Beaudin, Bloc, Saint-Lambert, QC]

In how many cases or situations have children not received their citizenship and are facing possible deportation or difficulties?