Mr. Chair, in effect, this particular amendment would eliminate the additional grounds and streamlined process for revocation and would add a new requirement for a hearing before an independent decision-maker. We cannot possibly support this amendment. Under the additional grounds contained in the bill, the government would be able to revoke citizenship from dual citizens who have served as members of an armed force or organized crime group engaged in armed conflict with Canada or from those convicted of terrorism, high treason, or spying, depending on the sentence imposed. These new grounds for revocation would bring Canada in line with most other democratic nations. For example, the U.K. already has the power to strip citizenship. The new model for revocation will improve the efficiency of the process while still ensuring fairness and recourse mechanisms for affected individuals.
Under the new model, revocation decisions will be made by either the Federal Court or the minister. Revocation cases decided by the CIC minister or delegate would include those related to various types of fraud, which, had they been known about at the time of decision-making, would have prevented a grant of citizenship. Those include residence fraud, concealing criminal inadmissibility, and identity fraud. Decisions of the Federal Court would be subject to appeal. The Federal Court of Appeal of the Federal Court of Canada certifies a serious question of general importance.
There are a whole bunch of things we could say, but we definitely cannot support this amendment, because we believe that this particular clause is a very significant part of the bill.
I should add that treason was in the original Citizenship Act in 1947. Removal of citizenship was in the act of 1947 if someone perpetrated a crime against the Canadian Armed Forces or treason or terrorism against Canada. I think most Canadians would expect that those people don't respect the fact that they are Canadians and that we live in the most welcoming country in the world. We do not expect those who come here to obtain their citizenship fraudulently or to have partaken in or to partake in activities that are against the fundamental values and principles of our nation by attacking our armed forces or perpetrating treason against our country.
We will be opposing this amendment.