Subscribe to RSS Feed
e-2451 (Citizenship and immigration)
Original language of petition: English
Petition to the Government of Canada
- Foreign national tourists are giving birth in Canada solely to obtain Canadian Citizenship for their newborn children;
- These birth tourists are intentionally using deceitful methods to bypass the legitimate immigration process, which is morally wrong; and
- Birth tourists draw upon finite Canadian medical resources, but there are instances where they do not pay the costs associated, resulting in increased costs for Canadian taxpayers.
Response by the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Signed by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable Marco Mendicino
Citizenship acquired through birth on soil is a long-standing policy in Canada. It has been in place since the first Canadian CitizenshipAct in 1947. With the exception of children of persons with diplomatic privileges and immunities, any person born in Canada is automatically a Canadian citizen.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has measures in place to protect the integrity of Canada's immigration and citizenship programs.
Foreign nationals seeking entry to Canada are required to state the purpose of their visit when applying for a visa. Applicants must always be honest about the purpose of their visit. All visitors to Canada must meet the requirements for temporary residence in Canada, as set out in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Visa applications are considered on a case-by-case basis on the specific facts presented by the applicant in each case. Decisions are made by highly trained visa officers in accordance with Canadian immigration law. Visa officers look at many factors when assessing whether an applicant is a genuine temporary resident. Providing false information or documents when dealing with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada or Canada Border Services Agency is considered misrepresentation and has significant consequences.
While providing false information is considered misrepresentation and has immigration consequences, non-residents ?giving birth in Canada is not considered fraud under the Citizenship Act. Under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, a person is not inadmissible nor can they be denied a visa solely on the grounds that they are pregnant or that they may give birth in Canada.
The Government of Canada is committed to protecting the public from fraud and unethical consulting practices and protecting the integrity of Canada’s immigration and citizenship programs. To this end, IRCC is currently implementing comprehensive reforms to strengthen measures to address the practices of unscrupulous consultants and exploitation of our programs through misrepresentation. Budget 2019 announced $51.9 million and $10.1 million ongoing to protect Canadians, and those seeking to start a new life in Canada, from unscrupulous immigration consultants. This will increase investigations and enforcement, expand public awareness and strengthen the oversight of consultants.
September 30, 2020 (Petition No. 432-00045)
