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e-397 (Canadian citizenship)

E-petition
Initiated by kerry starchuk from Richmond, British Columbia

Original language of petition: English

Petition to the Government of Canada

Whereas:
  • The Jus soli, or birthright citizenship, law of Canada enables an abusive and exploitative practice often called 'Birth Tourism', which permits expectant mothers who are foreign nationals, with no status in Canada, to gain automatic citizenship for their children born within Canada;
  • All but one other developed country in the world has eliminated provision for birthright citizenship because of the widespread abuse it is open to; and
  • The practice of 'Birth Tourism' can be very costly to taxpayers since it is used to ensure that after the child reaches 18 years of age Canada's education system can be used at a publicly subsidised cost, and he/she can sponsor his/her parents and many other family members, thus taking advantage of Canada's public health system and social security programmes such as OAS and the GIS.
We, the undersigned, Citizens of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to:
1. Enact legislation which will fully eliminate birthright citizenship in Canada unless one of the parents of the child born in Canada is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada;
2. Ensure the new legislation is thorough and complete, and does not allow any 'loopholes' which permit birthright citizenship;
3. Consult with the Supreme Court before enacting the legislation in order to best ensure that the new legislation will not be challenged in court; and
4. Immediately invoke the Notwithstanding Clause in support of the legislation, if it is overturned in the Supreme Court, and that it immediately re-write the law in a form which will better withstand future court challenges.
Government response tabled on December 2, 2016 (Sessional Paper No. 8545-421-89-01)
Open for signature
June 16, 2016, at 10:40 a.m. (EDT)
Closed for signature
October 14, 2016, at 10:40 a.m. (EDT)
Presented to the House of Commons
Alice Wong (Richmond Centre)
October 19, 2016 (Petition No. 421-00775)
Government response tabled
December 2, 2016
Photo - Alice Wong
Richmond Centre
Conservative Caucus
British Columbia