Evidence of meeting #38 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was naturalization.
A recording is available from Parliament.
December 13th, 2010 / 4:20 p.m.
NDP
Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON
Yes. I'm sorry.
I don't know whether the legislative clerk can answer the question, or maybe you can. If we were to amend Bill C-467 in a way that would make the wording work not just for the folks who serve in the army or in the embassies but also for the 800 kids who are citizens when Canadian parents adopt them to come to Canada, would that be in the scope of the bill? Is that possible?
Mr. Chair, I don't know whether it's a question for you to....
4:20 p.m.
NDP
4:20 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
Well, let's say that a legislative clerk might be more appropriate. I know I'm not prepared to answer at this time, and I don't think it's a fair question of these people.
Perhaps you could approach the clerk privately with this question.
4:20 p.m.
NDP
Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON
Yes, okay.
Let me ask another question, then. Is there a plan to try to fix this problem?
Maybe there's a political question also. Given the difference in treatment between adopted kids who are naturalized versus those who come to Canada as citizens, is there any discussion, any possibility, that a separate bill can come forward to deal with that problem? Obviously the department understands that this is an issue. I'm sure these Canadian parents are telling you it's a problem.
4:20 p.m.
Director, Legislation and Program Policy, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Branch, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
I don't think I can really comment, other than to point out again that under the current structure of the legislation, the comparator groups are those born and naturalized in Canada versus those born abroad and adopted abroad. Currently, those are the comparator groups.
4:20 p.m.
Director, Legislation and Program Policy, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Branch, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
It's rather than something else. Right.
4:20 p.m.
NDP
Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON
Has the department had a round table discussion with all the big agencies that help Canadian parents adopt kids overseas? There are different agencies that do a lot of adoptions, and they're very reputable groups. There are some small ones, but there are the big ones, right? There are any number of them. I know this is an issue that really troubles them. Has there been a discussion, a round table, a sharing of minds with them?
4:20 p.m.
Director, Legislation and Program Policy, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Branch, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
There has not been one on our part recently. Certainly there were discussions with some of these groups when Bill C-14 and Bill C-37 were going through Parliament. These groups were in contact with us and may have been witnesses before committee as well, but not recently.
4:20 p.m.
NDP
Olivia Chow NDP Trinity—Spadina, ON
The adoption groups didn't realize that Bill C-37 impacted on them. In fact, some of us are not clear that it did, because we didn't put two and two together. We didn't put Bill C-14 together with Bill C-37. We didn't realize that Bill C-37 actually had an impact on adopted kids because of Bill C-14. That was approved two years ago, so I don't think these adoption non-profit organizations had any input at all.
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
Well, Bill C-37 isn't even before the House, unless these were consultations prior to the creation of Bill C-37.
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Tilson
Well, I don't know. Maybe they don't either. You're speculating, really.
4:25 p.m.
Director, Legislation and Program Policy, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Branch, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
Well, when Bill C-14 and the first Bill C-37 were going through the process, the department was certainly in contact with different stakeholders, including groups such as the Adoption Council of Canada, to indicate that these pieces of legislation were being put forward for Parliament's consideration and to indicate what the provisions were. Certainly our records indicate that.
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
4:25 p.m.
Bloc
Josée Beaudin Bloc Saint-Lambert, QC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
I would like to ask two brief questions to make sure I understand. If I am not mistaken, if I were a Crown servant, for instance, and I adopted a child, my child could also pass his or her citizenship on to his or her children, right?
4:25 p.m.
Director, Legislation and Program Policy, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Branch, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
No, that is not the case.
4:25 p.m.
Bloc
Josée Beaudin Bloc Saint-Lambert, QC
So that is not the case. So, for public servants, it applies only to the first generation.
4:25 p.m.
Director, Legislation and Program Policy, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Branch, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
That's right.
4:25 p.m.
Bloc
Josée Beaudin Bloc Saint-Lambert, QC
Now, if I adopt and go through the normal citizenship process, my children would be able to pass their citizenship on to their children.
4:25 p.m.
Director, Legislation and Program Policy, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Branch, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
I'm sorry, you mean through the immigration process?
4:25 p.m.
Bloc
Josée Beaudin Bloc Saint-Lambert, QC
I am talking about the normal process for obtaining citizenship.
Your document states,“Those who go through the immigration route and then obtain a regular grant of citizenship will be able to pass on citizenship to any children they may have...”
4:25 p.m.
Director, Legislation and Program Policy, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Branch, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
That's right.