Applications for Canadian citizenship certificates have surged globally in recent months, with a notable increase in submissions from the United States, as per findings by CBC News. The adoption of the “Lost Canadian” legislation by Parliament last year led to a nearly 50% rise in the number of individuals receiving certificates between April 1 and May 31, based on new data acquired by CBC.
The implementation of Bill C-3 enables citizenship for individuals who can demonstrate descent from a Canadian ancestor, even if that ancestor emigrated from the country generations ago. Following its enactment in mid-December, around 6,100 citizenship certificates were granted by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to eligible candidates by May 31. This marked an increase from the 4,075 certificates issued under Bill C-3 until March 31.
Additionally, 17,390 individuals have obtained certificates due to having a Canadian parent. Previously, individuals born outside Canada needed a Canadian parent to qualify for citizenship before the bill’s passage.
The issuance of certificates permits the 23,490 newly recognized Canadian citizens to apply for Canadian passports and reside and work in the country. However, Elections Canada stipulates that they cannot vote in federal elections unless they have resided in Canada at some point in their lives.
Of the recognized individuals between mid-December and May, nearly half were born in the U.S. Approximately 3,110 Americans have become eligible for Canadian citizenship certificates through Bill C-3, while 8,125 Americans have obtained certificates because one of their parents was born in Canada.
The number of pending citizenship certificate applications has surged significantly, with around 121,800 individuals currently awaiting decisions, up from 70,400 in May. The estimated decision wait time has doubled from 12 months in May to 25 months as of August 10.
Estimates on the potential number of individuals qualifying for Canadian citizenship due to Bill C-3 vary widely. The parliamentary budget officer has projected that approximately 115,000 individuals could be impacted by the law change.
Furthermore, archivists in Canada have observed a sharp rise in requests for genealogical records required to prove lineage for Canadian citizenship certificates under Bill C-3. Archivists are facing challenges in meeting the increased demand, with some institutions experiencing a threefold increase in requests.
The Association of Canadian Archivists is advocating for additional funding to support archives across the country in coping with the heightened demand for records triggered by Bill C-3. The surge in requests coincided with the discontinuation of the Documentary Heritage Communities program, exacerbating the strain on resources in small and medium-sized archives.
Concerns have arisen over the suspension of around 100 certificates by IRCC due to issues with submitted documents, potentially necessitating further genealogical records for affected individuals. New Democrat immigration critic Jenny Kwan has raised concerns over the situation and called for clarification from Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab.
This development underscores the significant impact of Bill C-3 on the citizenship landscape and the challenges faced by both applicants and archivists in navigating the evolving requirements for Canadian citizenship documentation.