Government must revoke second generation cutoff in citizenship law
Wed 27 May 2009
OTTAWA – New Democrat Citizenship and Immigration Critic Olivia Chow (Trinity—Spadina) is introducing a private member’s bill in Parliament today that, if passed, would restore equality in our citizenship and laws.
“As of April 17, 2009, the children and grandchildren of Canadian expatriate and adoptive families have had their citizenship downgraded or worse, stripped away,” said Chow.
The recent changes in citizenship and immigration law that were meant to restore citizenship to Lost Canadians have instead created a new generation of Lost Canadians.
“The expatriate and international adoption communities are up in arms about this. I receive letters almost every day and was even asked about it recently by concerned Canadians in Asia,” said Chow.
Millions of Canadians work abroad for Canadian corporations, engineering firms, universities and colleges. Many also work for the United Nations, and humanitarian organisations such as UNICEF and Doctors without Borders. The government should treat citizenship in a manner that reflects and promotes Canada’s economic, social, intellectual and humanitarian engagement with the world.
“In this day and age, enacting a law that creates two levels of citizenship, or even strips it away, based on the mere fact that one’s birth does not occur on Canadian soil is unacceptable.” said Chow. “It’s time for this severe inequity to be fixed, and I call on the government to adopt my bill which will restore equality.”
Related:
Olivia’s Bill to ensure all children born of Canadians will be citizens
Olivia’s Motion to fix unequal treatment of adoptive families
Position: Equality Must Be Restored Amongst All Citizens-Amend Bill C-37
Petition: Restore Equality to Children Born Abroad of Canadian Citizens (Support Bill C-397)
