Canadian citizenship and children born abroad

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    Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration Canada
  • Sponsored By:
    The Canadian Expat Association
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Dear Minister Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

We, the undersigned are asking that Bill C-37: An Act to amend the Citizenship Act*, be stopped immediately for review before it comes into effect on April 17th, 2009. These amendments are intended to prevent Canadian citizenship from being passed from generation to generation of individuals that have neither connection nor ties to Canada. However, they fail to take into consideration Canadians that in fact are strongly connected to this great nation but due to no fault of their own were born outside of Canada.

In addition, these amendments do not take into consideration children that will be born stateless should Canada not recognize their Canadian citizenship. This contravenes Canada's commitment to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness to which Canada ratified

These amendments, if not stopped and reviewed with the above issues in mind will cause undue hardship for hundreds of thousands of Canadians that contribute significantly to the economic and cultural success of this country both now and into the future.

2455 Signatures

  • Allan Nichols
    • Comments
    • I fully agree with the statement and lend my signature
  • Jennifer Collins
    • Comments
    • As a Canadian with 2 first generation born abroad children, I am very concerned about their future rights.
  • Laura Knox
  • Heather Boucher
  • Kelly MacLellan
  • Brendon MacLellan
  • Heidi Lawlor
    • Comments
    • This is too restrictive.
  • Lori Doiron-Fitzpatrick
    • Comments
    • This affects my niece and nephew. I don't want them or their children to lose their Canadian citizenship.
  • Ian Walsh
  • Laura Bennett
  • Jennifer Mizgala
  • Bobby Heard
  • Elena K.
  • Otto Bauer
  • Mike Tolfree
  • Marty R. Milette
    • Comments
    • Canadians abroad shouldn't be punished unfairly.
  • Denine M Scallen
  • Terrence A. Nunes
  • Karen Heffernan
  • Mike Campeau
  • Tim Woolaver
  • Susan Fitzpatrick
  • Andrй Campeau
    • Comments
    • Please do not make my 2 sons and future children second class citizens! I have not renounced Canadian citizenship, why should my children be punished with lesser opportunities than I just because I chose to live and work abroad? Do you really want me to move back to Canada and spend Canadian health care dollars simply to preserve the Canadian citizenship rights of my future son or daughter? You have got to be kidding! Who needs that administrative complication in life!!
  • Pablo Kuntz
  • Gordon Nicol
    • Comments
    • this is a 'must do'
  • Gordon Fordeczka
  • Troy Johnson
  • Helen Cronier
    • Comments
    • If the purpose of this law is to protect immigration to Canada then make the application period for citizenship longer, like 5 years. This would deter persons who do not have a serious commitment to being Canadian.
  • Jeff Danter
  • Tracey Simpson
  • Carrie Bunton
    • Comments
    • My husband and I are both born Canadians who are presently living in the Cayman Islands for work . We just had a baby a few months ago. These changes will mean my child will be without a place to call home. By virtue of the laws of the Cayman Islands, she is not entitled to citizenship and now this new law/regulations will mean she is not entitled to be a proud Canadian like her parents. Shame on the Canadian government!
  • Olivia Robison
    • Comments
    • My born abroad Canadian children have very close ties to Canada. We are returning to Canada, but my Canadian children will be penalized if they travel, work or study abroad. This bill should be amended to allow Canadians with close ties and/or some residency in Canada to pass citizenship to their children. Otherwise, these second class Canadian citizens will become the new "lost Canadians".
  • Rita Vandergaast
  • john vandergaast
  • Kaitlyn Vandergaast
  • Nadine Vandergaast
  • carly vandergaast
  • garret vandergaast
  • Christie Walton
  • Lia Glykis
  • Stephen Brown
  • Andrew Croy
  • Gabor S. Acs
    • Comments
    • I need help boring through the Canuk Bureacracy
  • Mariella Greco
  • Marc Beaudoin
  • Camille Beaudoin
  • Sarah Mak
    • Comments
    • В
  • Beth Sywulsky
  • Michelle Kuk
  • Ian Whan-Tong