Changes to Canadian Citizenship Rules Draw Criticism

Complexities in Canada's new Citizenship Act are drawing concerns and complaints from adoptive parents, to a large extent due to the complexity of certain elements. As is currently the case, the new rules permit Canadians who give birth abroad or adopt from another country to pass along their citizenship to such children. However, new federal legislation that will take effect this April can exclude those foreign-born children of Canadians from bestowing that same citizenship on their own children in the case that they adopt or give birth in a country other than Canada.

Canada's government explains that these changes are intended to correct a problematic loophole in the system. Closing this loophole will prevent foreign-born nationals from obtaining citizenship, then returning to their home country and being able to pass along Canadian citizenship to generations of family members who have never set foot in Canada.

Complaints suggest that these amendments to the Citizenship Act along with subsequent regulations that were released late last year do not consider the impact on internationally adopted children and children born to Canadians overseas. Contrary to these concerns, however, children born outside Canada who apply to become citizens after their Canadian parents sponsor them to come to this country as permanent residents are entitled to the same rights as children who are born here. In fact, the new rules will only have an impact on children whose Canadian parents choose to have them declared citizens of Canada while resident outside of Canada.