A recent report from the Parliamentary Budget Officer reveals that Bill C-71, aimed at reinstating rights for “lost Canadians,” could potentially create approximately 115,000 new citizens over the next five years. The implementation is estimated to cost the government $20.8 million, with the majority ($16.8 million) allocated for 2025-2026. The bill seeks to reverse a 2009 Conservative government policy restricting citizenship rights for children born overseas to Canadians who were also born outside the country. This legislative change, expected to take effect in April 2025, addresses concerns about citizenship rights for various groups, including border babies and Indigenous children in cross-border communities.
