Mr. Speaker, introducing additional requirements, such as language proficiency, knowledge testing or security screening, for Canadians who are citizens at birth would blur the line between immigration and citizenship by descent. It would impose a process meant for newcomers on people whose citizenship is already recognized in law.
We do not ask Canadians born in this country to pass tests to retain their citizenship, nor do we impose these kinds of tests now on Canadians who are born abroad. Extending such tests to those born or adopted abroad beyond the first generation would create distinctions between Canadians based solely on their place of birth. Extending such tests only to adults would create distinctions based on age. Canada cannot have different classes of citizens. Bill C-3 maintains the proper separation between immigration and citizenship law. It ensures that citizenship at birth, whether by place or by parentage, remains clear, consistent and secure.
I want to reassure Canadians that Bill C-3 already includes strong safeguards to uphold both the integrity of citizenship and the security of our country. Citizenship by descent will not operate on the honour system. The burden of proof rests squarely on the Canadian parent, who must provide evidence of their 1,095 days of physical presence in Canada before their child’s birth or adoption. Documents such as educational transcripts, pay stubs and leases will be reviewed carefully by officers, who may request additional information when needed. If a parent cannot demonstrate the required physical presence, their child born or adopted abroad will not be Canadian.
All of Canada’s existing integrity measures continue to apply as well. Passport controls, law enforcement co-operation, prosecution for extraterritorial offences and citizenship revocation in cases of fraud remain essential tools to protect the safety of Canadians and the trust they place in our citizenship system.
I am running out of time, so I am just going to go to my conclusion.
I will just say that Bill C-3 represents a thoughtful and balanced step forward in Canada’s citizenship laws. There is broad, cross-party agreement on the need to remedy the status of remaining lost Canadians, and this bill delivers that solution. It also modernizes how citizenship by descent is applied, preserving the connection between generations of Canadians while ensuring that our laws remain clear, practical and consistent.
I would ask that my hon. colleagues on the other side of this House kindly consider voting in favour.