By Canadian Press

Government asks for third extension on court deadline to pass ‘lost Canadians’ bill

Dec 5, 2024 | 11:49 AM

OTTAWA — Immigration Minister Marc Miller says the government is seeking a third extension to a court-mandated deadline to pass legislation that grants citizenship to “lost Canadians.”

Miller says the government is seeking a three-month extension to the current Dec. 19 deadline.

In 2009, former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper’s government changed the law so Canadian parents who were born abroad could not pass down their citizenship unless their child was born in Canada.

Those who have not had access to citizenship rights as a result of the amendments came to be known as “Lost Canadians.”

Last year, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice ruled that the 2009 law is unconstitutional and the federal government agreed with the ruling; the proposed bill would automatically grant citizenship to people affected by the 2009 Conservative legislation.

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Miller told a Senate committee studying the bill the government hasn’t been able to advance the legislation in the House of Commons due to an ongoing privilege debate that is gridlocking parliament.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 5, 2024.

David Baxter, The Canadian Press

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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Marc Miller rises during Question Period, Monday, Dec 2, 2024 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

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