The federal government has asked the Ontario Superior Court of Justice for more time to pass the Citizenship for Lost Canadians Act, saying that without an extension “unknown” people will be eligible for automatic tax relief next week. He said he would gain citizenship.
So-called lost Canadians are people born abroad to Canadian parents who were also born in other countries.
In 2009, former Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government changed the law to prevent people born abroad from inheriting citizenship unless their child was born in Canada.
Last year, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice ruled the law unconstitutional.
The Liberal Party introduced legislation to grant citizenship to lost Canadians, but asked the court for three extensions to pass it.
They are currently asking for next week’s deadline to be postponed by three months to March next year.
The new law provides that anyone who meets the criteria will be eligible for citizenship if their parents spent a cumulative three years in Canada before their birth.
The Attorney General’s Office said in a court filing that when the Harper-era law expires next week, there will be a “legal gap” in which citizenship will be applied inconsistently, resulting in an unknown number of people becoming Canadian citizens. argued that it would occur.
Lawyers representing the seven families of missing Canadians will argue that the government had enough time to pass the bill, including two previous extensions.
The government wants to extend the deadline until March 19, 2025.
Lawyer Sujit Chowdhury has argued that the extension should only be granted until February 3, 2025. He is asking the court to evaluate the work done to pass the bill and decide whether to grant further extensions.
Chaudhry argues that the government is not doing enough to pass the bill.
Despite the filibuster over the privilege motion halting most business in the House, the government was able to introduce and pass other legislation, Chaudhry noted.
The government’s submission says the citizenship law is “complex and far-reaching” and requires careful consideration and consideration by Parliament.
The bill is currently in second reading in the House of Commons. The Senate is also conducting preliminary research on the bill.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 12, 2024.
