Latest news with #LenaMetlegeDiab
Hindustan Times
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
What is Canada's new citizenship bill C-3? And how will it impact Indians? Explained
As Canada works to solve its immigration issues, the Mark Carney-led government have introduced a new bill which will bring in a limit on citizenship provided by descent. The citizenship amendment - C-3 - announced on Thursday, will effectively restore citizenship to lost Canadians. Introduced by Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab, the C-3 will be focus on fixing "injustices" against Canadian-born citizens outside of Canada. As per the Canadian government, ill C-3 will - The current rules state that if a Canadian citizen was born outside of Canada, they will not be pass on their citizenship to their child born abroad. Furthermore, this rule, introduced in 2009, restricted citizenship via descent only to first generation born Canadians. "The current first-generation limit to citizenship no longer reflects how Canadian families live today—here at home and around the world—and the values that define our country," said Immigration minister Diab while introducing the new C-3 bill. This amendment to the citizenship bill also comes after the Ontario Superior Court of Justice deemed the existing version of the rule "unconstitutional" in December 2023. This bill is expected to benefit the Indian diaspora and other immigrants in Canada as the C-3 bill will "allow a Canadian parent born abroad who has a substantial connection to Canada to pass on citizenship to their child born abroad beyond the first generation." "It would also provide them with access to the direct grant of citizenship for their child adopted abroad beyond the first generation," IRCC added further. Which means, a persons born in India to Canadian citizens or ancestors will now be eligible for Canadian citizenship based on the C-3 bill. This bill also comes at a time when US President Donald Trump has ended birthright citizenship, impacting several immigrants in the United States. The C-3 bill is currently under legislative review and needed to be passed by both houses of Parliament to become a law. "If the bill passes both Houses of Parliament and receives Royal Assent, we will work as quickly as possible to bring the changes into effect," said IRCC in its official statement. In the Canadian parliament, a bill must pass three readings before the two Houses cast their vote. After the houses cast their votes, the bill is then passed to the Governor General for Royal Assent.
NDTV
14 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Canada's New Citizenship Bill: What It Means For Indians, Those Born Abroad
Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. The Canadian government introduced Bill C-3, removing limits on citizenship by descent, allowing Canadians born abroad to pass citizenship to children. Parents must show a "substantial connection" to Canada. The bill aims to modernise citizenship laws. The Canadian government has introduced a new bill, titled C-3, that removes the existing limit on citizenship by descent. The legislation was presented in the Parliament on Thursday by Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab. Currently, the rule states that a Canadian citizen that was born outside Canada would not be able to pass on their citizenship to their child born abroad. Essentially, introduced in 2009, it restricted citizenship by descent to only the first generation born in Canada. The proposed 'Citizenship Bill' aims to correct these injustices. However, the parent should demonstrate a 'substantial connection' to Canada. It is defined as at least 1,095 cumulative days (three years) of physical presence in the country before the child is born or adopted. According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), 'As a result of the first-generation limit to citizenship by descent for individuals born abroad, most Canadian citizens who are citizens by descent cannot pass on citizenship to their child born or adopted outside Canada. The current first-generation limit to citizenship no longer reflects how Canadian families live today—here at home and around the world—and the values that define our country.' This bill is expected to benefit the Indian diaspora and other immigrant communities amid the Trump administration's tightening of immigration policies in the United States. On January 20th, Trump had ended birthright for children born in the US to parents on temporary visas such as H-1B and F-1. Although the bill is currently under legislative review, it must pass three ratings and then receive royal assent to become law. The IRCC has confirmed that, 'If the bill passes both Houses of Parliament and receives Royal Assent, we will work as quickly as possible to bring the changes into effect.'
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Canada's new Bill C-3: How ‘Lost Canadians,' Indian diaspora may finally reclaim citizenship
By amending the Citizenship Act and addressing long-standing restrictions on citizenship by descent, Bill C-3 is set to provide a revolutionary change in Canada's citizenship regulations. For the Indian diaspora and other immigrant communities, this legislative action is especially important since it aims to address the issues experienced by "Lost Canadians" and extend citizenship rights beyond the first generation born outside. According to the existing Citizenship Act, Canadian citizens can only give their citizenship to children born outside of Canada if they were born in Canada or became citizens before the child was born. This "first-generation limit" has inadvertently kept many people from obtaining citizenship, especially those whose parents were also foreign-born and lived in Canada. As a result, many persons of Indian and other ethnic backgrounds have been left without a clear path to citizenship, despite having family in Canada. Read more: Best of the Gulf: 8 iconic landmarks in the GCC that will blow your mind Key provisions of Bill C-3 Bill C-3, which was introduced by Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab, intends to remove the first-generation limit, enabling Canadian residents to provide citizenship to their children who are born or adopted overseas, regardless of where they were born. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik IC Markets Mendaftar Undo The bill states that the Canadian parent must have been physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 cumulative days (three years) prior to the child's birth or adoption in order to guarantee a true connection to Canada. The measure also aims to grant citizenship back to "Lost Canadians"—people who were denied citizenship or lost it as a result of out-of-date provisions in earlier includes those affected by the earlier Section 8 of the Citizenship Act, which had stringent requirements that led to unintentional exclusions. Read more: 3-year citizenship no more? Germany's new migration, visa freeze rules explained This legal amendment will have a substantial positive impact on the Indian community. The elimination of generational barriers will strengthen relationships and give their descendants simpler paths to citizenship, especially considering the large number of Indian-origin people living in Canada and their international family ties. This is particularly relevant given the difficulties Indians encounter in other nations, like the US, where immigration laws have gotten stricter. For Bill C-3 to become law, it must undergo the standard legislative process, including three readings in Parliament and receiving royal assent. Given the positive reception from immigrant communities and experts, there is optimism about its eventual enactment. Once passed, the bill will not only rectify past oversights but also reinforce Canada's commitment to inclusivity and recognition of its diverse populace. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Indian diaspora to benefit as Canada proposes expansion of citizenship by descent
In a significant move expected to benefit the Indian diaspora and other immigrant communities, the Canadian government has introduced a new bill to remove the existing limit on citizenship by descent. The legislation, titled Bill C-3, was presented in Parliament on Thursday by Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab, as per a report by Lubna Kably in the Times of India. The current rule, introduced in 2009, restricts Canadian citizenship by descent to only the first generation born outside Canada. This means that a Canadian citizen who was themselves born outside Canada could not pass on their citizenship to a child born abroad. Similarly, they could not apply for direct citizenship for a child adopted overseas. The proposed bill aims to change this. According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada ( IRCC ), 'As a result of the first-generation limit to citizenship by descent for individuals born abroad, most Canadian citizens who are citizens by descent cannot pass on citizenship to their child born or adopted outside Canada. The current first-generation limit to citizenship no longer reflects how Canadian families live today—here at home and around the world—and the values that define our country.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Infertile Man Visits Orphanage And Hears, 'Hi Daddy.' Then He Realizes His Late Wife's Cruel Lies Crowdy Fan Undo As per Lubna's report in TOI, the issue has drawn legal scrutiny in recent years. In January 2024, a Canadian court ruled the first-generation limit unconstitutional. The government chose not to appeal the ruling. Although similar legislation was proposed in March 2024 by then-Immigration Minister Marc Miller, it did not pass, prompting its reintroduction this week. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) If passed, Bill C-3 would automatically grant citizenship to individuals who would have been eligible if not for the earlier restrictions. It also proposes a new system under which Canadian parents born abroad can pass on citizenship to their foreign-born children—provided the parent has lived in Canada for at least 1,095 days (or three years) before the child's birth or adoption. Live Events You Might Also Like: Canada's new bill to grant citizenship to thousands of people Ken Nickel-Lane, managing director of an immigration services firm, said to The Times of India, 'While Bill C-3 certainly addresses and rectifies a fault, or faults in the current Citizenship Act which certainly is warranted and just, it may face challenges given current public opinion towards immigration.' He added that the bill might put pressure on immigration quotas, potentially affecting temporary foreign workers critical to infrastructure and housing development. The IRCC has confirmed that, 'If the bill passes both Houses of Parliament and receives Royal Assent, we will work as quickly as possible to bring the changes into effect.' For many Indian-origin Canadians with children or adopted children born outside Canada, the bill—if passed—will mark a major shift in access to citizenship and legal status. You Might Also Like: Canada's first Express Entry draw under new Immigration Minister invites 277 applications
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
What is citizenship by descent? Canada offers new way for some to become citizens
A new bill introduced in the House of Commons is offering a way for some to obtain Canadian citizenship. Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act, was tabled by Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship of Canada (IRCC) Lena Metlege Diab on Thursday. The bill would automatically grant Canadian citizenship to anyone who would be a citizen today if it weren't for the first-generation limit or 'outdated provisions,' the federal government said in a news release. Currently, most Canadian citizens who are citizens by descent cannot pass their citizenship onto a child born or adopted outside the country. The bill would also establish a new framework to allow for citizenship based on a Canadian parent's connection to Canada. The connection can be proven by demonstrating they lived in the country for at least three years, or 1,095 cumulative days, before the birth or adoption of a child. Here's what to know. The limit refers to the fact that someone does not automatically become a Canadian citizen if they were born outside Canada and their parent was also born outside Canada to a Canadian parent, or adopted outside Canada by a Canadian parent. The Ontario Superior Court of Justice declared that key provisions of the first-generation limit were unconstitutional in Dec. 2023. 'The Government of Canada did not appeal the ruling because we agree that the current law has unacceptable consequences for Canadians whose children were born outside the country,' per the news release. The Court suspended its declaration until November 20, 2025, which means the current rules still apply until further notice, according to the federal government. 'The legislative amendments to the Citizenship Act made in 2009 by the Harper Conservatives restrict citizenship by descent to the first generation born abroad,' Diab's office told National Post in an emailed statement. 'This has meant that individuals with a genuine connection to Canada are not recognized as Canadian citizens and has led to unacceptable consequences for Canadians whose children were born outside the country.' The legislation was introduced to 'correct this, to remove the first generation limit, extending Canadian citizenship to 'Lost Canadians' beyond the first generation,' per the minister's office. According to a news release in 2008, the amendments made by the Harper government were 'to protect the value of Canadian citizenship for the future.' 'Canadian citizenship is more than a legal status, more than a passport,' said former Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney in 2010. 'We expect citizens to have an ongoing commitment, connection and loyalty to Canada.' The term refers to people who were born outside of the country to Canadian parents who were also born in another country. In 1974, the first Canadian Citizenship Act contained provisions that cause many people to 'either lose their Canadian citizenship or not acquire it in the first place,' the news release said. Changes to the legislation in 2009 and 2015 restored or gave citizenship to some 20,000 'lost Canadians.' The new legislation proposes giving automatic citizenship to anyone denied citizenship under the current law. 'Citizenship is more than a legal status — it's a profound connection to the values, history, and spirit of Canada,' said Diab, per the news release. 'It reflects our belief that being Canadian means more than just a place of birth; it's about belonging, shared experiences, and a commitment to the inclusive and diverse community we all call home.' The new bill could open up the possibility of many people applying for citizenship. Thousands of people could become Canadian, estimated immigration news website Citizenship and Immigration Canada. With a potential surge of applications, Vancouver immigration lawyer Ryan Neely told CTV News that government should be certain that the IRCC's systems are 'equipped to handle the influx of applications.' With additional reporting by The Canadian Press FIRST READING: High immigration is worsening Canada's economic problems, says report Michael Bonner: We need an immigration policy that will serve all Canadians Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.
