The suspension of Bill C-71, following Parliament’s prorogation this month, could lead to an unexpected surge in Canadian citizenship grants. The bill, which aimed to restore and regulate citizenship rights for children born abroad to Canadian parents, included a crucial three-year residency requirement. With the bill now stalled and a court ruling set to take effect in March, thousands of individuals whose parents have never set foot in Canada could automatically qualify for citizenship, raising concerns about the connection between new citizens and the country. The situation emerged after a 2023 Ontario court ruled against denying citizenship to children of Canadians born outside the country.
