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e-517 (Canadian citizenship)

E-petition
Initiated by James Emery from Nepean, Ontario

Original language of petition: English

Petition to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Whereas:
  • The Canadian government has effectively revoked the citizenship of thousands of Canadian children born abroad since the "after first generation" exclusion to the right to citizenship came into force in 2009;
  • Canadians living abroad advance billions of dollars in trade, contribute to scientific discoveries, aid the world's most vulnerable persons, and serve as Canada's unofficial ambassadors;
  • This citizenship disentitlement greatly concerns Canadians who have lived, do live, or are considering opportunities abroad;
  • The Charter of Rights and Freedoms embodies our most cherished values, including mobility rights, equality rights, and respect for multicultural heritage;
  • Notwithstanding the Charter, this disentitlement established a class of Canadians that cannot leave Canada, have children, and return with a guarantee to bring their children home;
  • The Prime Minister campaigned on a promise to respect the Charter, and during the debate on September 28th, 2015 said, "A Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian, and you devalue the citizenship of every Canadian... when you break down and make it conditional for anyone;" and
  • The Minister said, as reported on March 3rd, 2016, "If one believes that a Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian, and there is only one class of Canadian, those principles must be applied universally."
We, the undersigned, citizens (or residents) of Canada, call upon the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship to welcome Canadians home and encourage Canadians to embrace global opportunities by repealing retroactively the "after first generation" right to citizenship exclusion contained in subsections 3(3) to (5) of the Citizenship Act, thereby continuing the universal application that there is only one class of Canadian, with full Charter rights.
Government response tabled on September 18, 2017 (Sessional Paper No. 8545-421-89-03)
Open for signature
August 23, 2016, at 7:57 a.m. (EDT)
Closed for signature
December 21, 2016, at 7:57 a.m. (EDT)
Presented to the House of Commons
Jenny Kwan (Vancouver East)
June 1, 2017 (Petition No. 421-01425)
Government response tabled
September 18, 2017
Photo - Jenny Kwan
Vancouver East
New Democratic Party Caucus
British Columbia