Without intending to get hung up on the word "deserves," I disagree with the proposition that the "law prescribes who deserves citizenship under the law."
"Deserves" is not a legal term, not a term of art, and rarely if ever cited as criteria employed in formal decision-making. It is not among the formal criteria employed in the citizenship application process.
The law specifies the qualifications for citizenship, and the substantive and procedural requirements for obtaining a grant of citizenship. The law says who is to be granted citizenship.
Legally, deserves got little or nothing to do with it.
Practically, however, only fools go into the process disregarding the impact impressions can make on how things go. The mechanics and elements of this are too varied and diverse to warrant wandering there now. But in the context of this particular topic, despite the repeal of the intent to continue residing in Canada requirement, prospective applicants may want to consider the impression it makes and how that might influence the process if IRCC realizes they have left Canada to live abroad while the application is pending.
"Deserves" is not a legal term, not a term of art, and rarely if ever cited as criteria employed in formal decision-making. It is not among the formal criteria employed in the citizenship application process.
The law specifies the qualifications for citizenship, and the substantive and procedural requirements for obtaining a grant of citizenship. The law says who is to be granted citizenship.
Legally, deserves got little or nothing to do with it.
Practically, however, only fools go into the process disregarding the impact impressions can make on how things go. The mechanics and elements of this are too varied and diverse to warrant wandering there now. But in the context of this particular topic, despite the repeal of the intent to continue residing in Canada requirement, prospective applicants may want to consider the impression it makes and how that might influence the process if IRCC realizes they have left Canada to live abroad while the application is pending.