Applications for Canadian citizenship certificates from individuals worldwide have been increasing significantly in recent months, with a surge in submissions from the United States, as reported by CBC News. The number of individuals who have been granted certificates following Parliament’s approval of the “Lost Canadian” legislation late last year has risen by nearly 50% between April 1 and May 31, according to recent data from CBC.
The implementation of Bill C-3 allows individuals to obtain citizenship if they can demonstrate descent from a Canadian ancestor, even if that ancestor emigrated from Canada generations ago. This legislation was enacted in response to court rulings deeming the previous citizenship restrictions too limiting.
From mid-December to May 31, approximately 6,100 citizenship certificates were issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to those now eligible under Bill C-3, up from 4,075 certificates granted between mid-December and March 31. Additionally, 17,390 individuals have received certificates due to having a Canadian parent, a requirement that was in place before the adoption of the bill.
These certificates enable the 23,490 newly recognized Canadian citizens to apply for Canadian passports and reside and work in Canada. However, they are ineligible to vote in federal elections unless they have lived in Canada at some point.
The data indicates that individuals born in the U.S. represent almost half of those recognized between mid-December and the end of May. Specifically, 3,110 Americans have qualified for Canadian citizenship certificates under Bill C-3, while another 8,125 Americans have been granted certificates as a result of having a Canadian-born parent.
While these figures represent a fraction of the total applications, the backlog of citizenship certificate applications awaiting processing has surged. The number of pending applications reached around 56,000 in April and spiked to 70,400 in May. Currently, IRCC reports that 121,800 people are awaiting a decision, with the estimated wait time doubling from 12 months in May to 25 months as of August 10.
Estimates on the potential number of individuals eligible for Canadian citizenship under Bill C-3 vary widely, with some suggesting that hundreds of thousands of Canadians who migrated to the U.S. over a century ago could be affected by the law change. The parliamentary budget officer has projected that around 115,000 individuals could be impacted.
Despite initial expectations of moderate application volumes, the influx of requests necessitated IRCC to adapt its operations to handle the demand efficiently while maintaining program integrity. Furthermore, archivists are grappling with a sharp rise in requests for genealogical records required to validate lineage for citizenship certificate applications under Bill C-3.
The Association of Canadian Archivists reports significant increases in requests for historical records, posing challenges as the documents often pre-date Confederation or are archived in obscure locations. The association is advocating for additional funding to support archives nationwide in meeting the escalating demand for records due to Bill C-3.
Moreover, concerns have arisen regarding the suspension of a significant number of issued citizenship certificates by IRCC, with the possibility of individuals needing to provide additional genealogical proof to reinstate their citizenship. New Democrat immigration critic Jenny Kwan has voiced concerns over the situation and called for clarification from Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab.
In conclusion, the surge in applications for Canadian citizenship certificates underscores the impact of Bill C-3 and the ensuing challenges faced by authorities and archivists in managing the influx of requests and ensuring the integrity of the citizenship process.