Evidence of meeting #22 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was child.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Executive Director, Children's Bridge
It would be a challenge to define “close ties to Canada.” It would be an interesting process, for sure.
Director, Terre des hommes - Pour les enfants et Terre des hommes Ontario
Obviously, you've set this apart as a separate issue, but I think to talk about adopted children having a number of years of residency after the age of 14 doesn't make sense. Adopted children need to be--
Bloc
Thierry St-Cyr Bloc Jeanne-Le Ber, QC
Citizenship still depends on the connection of the parents. At birth or at the time of adoption, a baby clearly does not have a connection to a country. When he is born, one attests to the place where he came into the world. Should we not be asking to what extent his parents are connected to Canada? Would that not be a more modern vision of citizenship?
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
We have to wind up.
I've repented to you, Mr. St-Cyr. I can't give you any more time.
Mr. Shory, you have up to seven minutes.
Conservative
Devinder Shory Conservative Calgary Northeast, AB
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I'd also like to thank the witnesses for coming here.
Mr. Chair, interesting concerns have been raised in relation to international adoptions and Canadian citizenship thereafter. I note here that this law was passed on February 15, 2008, and was passed unanimously. I see that a few colleagues from the other side were MPs at that time as well.
How would you suggest fixing this problem while maintaining the integrity of our Canadian citizenship and also the tangible link to Canada that we expect from all Canadian citizens?
Executive Director, Children's Bridge
To me, the difference would be to not target a specific group, such as adopted persons, adopted children. It would be really important to leave out the targeting of a specific group when you're discussing citizenship, because that automatically sets up a process that's discriminatory. Under the new rules that were introduced in April, when you look through the rules there's actually a title “adopted persons”. In other words, it only applies to this specific group, not to any other group.
That would be my suggestion.
Acting Executive Director, Adoption Council of Canada
By singling them out, you're automatically creating a discriminatory situation. We agree with what Ms. Forbes is saying.
Conservative
Devinder Shory Conservative Calgary Northeast, AB
But was this not a part of the law that was unanimously passed by Parliament?
Executive Director, Children's Bridge
Right, and that's the dilemma. But I understood the new rules that sort of outlined how the law would be applied came into being in April. Is that correct?
Acting Executive Director, Adoption Council of Canada
One suggestion from the Adoption Council of Canada in terms of improving the existing bill is to add an exception for adopted children, similar to what the exceptions are now for military families. That is one recommendation from our board of directors.
Conservative
Devinder Shory Conservative Calgary Northeast, AB
What would be your comment, Ms. Cavanaugh, on this?
Director, Terre des hommes - Pour les enfants et Terre des hommes Ontario
I would agree with what she has just said. It would appear to me to be easy to make the exception for adopted children. I guess that may not handle the situation of expat Canadians, however. But as military and government personnel are exempt, why shouldn't adopted children be exempt?
Conservative
Devinder Shory Conservative Calgary Northeast, AB
It would have saved a lot of time if these concerns had been raised at the time the law was passed unanimously.
Director, Terre des hommes - Pour les enfants et Terre des hommes Ontario
I'm sorry. I couldn't understand you.
Conservative
Devinder Shory Conservative Calgary Northeast, AB
It would have been easier at the time the law was passed unanimously if the concerns had been raised.
Director, Terre des hommes - Pour les enfants et Terre des hommes Ontario
There was no consultation, as far as I know, with any of the adoption community about this.
Conservative
Devinder Shory Conservative Calgary Northeast, AB
Okay.
I'm also an immigrant. I came here as an immigrant--as Mr. Karygiannis said, most of us here are first generation--and I still remember the day I got my Canadian citizenship. I can visualize that day. I was so proud of myself. Now I am a Canadian citizen. That is very important to me.
Do you believe that adults who denounce their Canadian citizenship voluntarily should be given it back?
Executive Director, Concerned Group Representative, Canadian Expat Association
That's another issue altogether. I don't have a response to that.
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
You know, Mr. Shory, there is a fine line here. I'll let you continue for a little bit, but we are on Bill C-37.
Conservative