New Citizenship Bill Thursday Feb 6th

[keesio]

There will be as much debate and as many amendments as the majority party allows -- my guess is little, and none.

People are assuming only the Conservatives want immigration reform. People don't realize that there are many voters who support liberal and NDP candidates that also want some level of immigration reform. My riding is Trinity-Spadina in Toronto. Olivia Chow is the MP. Even some of her voters don't mind the reforms. The mood has shifted... not just in this country but around the world.

 

[wadelmaki]

eileenf,

Is it stated anywhere in the Bill if the changes will be partly or fully retroactive?

 

[ramsfe]

yes, option 2.

A question that brings together our two main concerns: Could Ministerial revocation for "false representation or fraud or knowingly concealing material circumstances" be employed if a naturalized citizen, who signed the declaration, chooses to exercise their Charter Mobility Rights and indicates that continual residence in Canada was not their true, lifelong intention? This looks possible...and again, it looks offensive to the value and equality of citizenship.

The opposition has to be informed and judged according to its action on these crazy neo-con moves! This is insulting to Canadian citizenship and to all those who want to be part of this nation!

 

[ramsfe]

eileenf,

Is it stated anywhere in the Bill if the changes will be partly or fully retroactive?

wadelmaki,

The minister was affirmative, nothing will be retroactive... other than the revocation part according to me.

However, administrative processing will be the same for everyone.... and this doesn't need a law. Syndey-Local office etc is a very technical issue that doesn't need a law to be changed, as long as they respect the provisions of the current law. So this can change.

This being said, the future looks bleak - This is not what Citizenship is, this is what the conservatives want it to become!

 

[eileenf]

eileenf,

Is it stated anywhere in the Bill if the changes will be partly or fully retroactive?

It's a 50 page bill, but please, check it out and let us know what your interpretation is: http://www.scribd.com/doc/205152354/Bill-C-24 I did notice something about the revocation conditions being retroactive. And the fee increase is effective as of today. Possibly people who have sent in their applications but not gotten an AOR may have their apps returned (as happened with applications sent before the new language requirements).

 

[eileenf]

The opposition has to be informed and judged according to its action on these crazy neo-con moves! This is insulting to Canadian citizenship and to all those who want to be part of this nation!

It should be termed "the New Citizens' waiver of Charter Rights" or the "anti-Ignatieff-Kenney Clause" since they both spent significant years residing outside of Canada or the "Your kids can't study abroad like "real" Canadians can" clause or the "Your kids can't take a working holiday" clause or the "You'll never be a "real" Canadian" clause.

 

[muzmil]

check out CIC website.. so much stuff under citizenship section:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/citizenship/become-urgent.asp


URGENT CITIZENSHIP APPLICATION - WOW

 

[Dejaavu]

When do you think this bill becomes law and when it will take effect?

My wife can apply for citizenship under rules in September 2014. I hope it passes later than that time...

 

[dear_pnp]

When do you think this bill becomes law and when it will take effect?

My wife can apply for citizenship under rules in September 2014. I hope it passes later than that time...

If everyone in the house have an understanding and are in agreement, then the bill can become law in as little as a week or two.

 

[sept15]

If everyone in the house have an understanding and are in agreement, then the bill can become law in as little as a week or two.

In a week or two? I thought the procedure is long and it should take a minimum of 2-3 months? and they do not sit every week?

 

[dear_pnp]

In a week or two? I thought the procedure is long and it should take a minimum of 2-3 months? and they do not sit every week?

I might be wrong and i am not an expert. From what i understand 2 to 3 months is where the bill needs to be sent back and forth for changes and amendments.

But if it is clear and in agreement with everyone, won't take long to get it passed.

 

[ramsfe]

It should be termed "the New Citizens' waiver of Charter Rights" or the "anti-Ignatieff-Kenney Clause" since they both spent significant years residing outside of Canada or the "Your kids can't study abroad like "real" Canadians can" clause or the "Your kids can't take a working holiday" clause or the "You'll never be a "real" Canadian" clause.

It is time that the opposition shows that It can be trusted with power...It is also time that the media plays its role and ask questions about the consequences of this bill...

According to my pure interpration of canadian politics, this bill will be adopted with some amendments sometime before the 20th of June 2014... just before the current parliamentary session ends.

Why do I think that they will amend some of it ? well because a bill has always a part that is Very electorally motivated ( if not all of it), and Chris Alexander just proved to the electoral base of the conservatives that his bill is REALLY harsh! ... some of the provisions are anti constitutional and anti charter and they won't be able to really apply them, even the idea of revoking citizenship from convicted terrorists... What if the person is only Canadian ? What if the person gives up all other citizenships before the minister signs the decree ?

Chris Alexander is sending a wonderful message to terrorists and criminals : " if you guys want to be Canadian terrorists forever, give up all your other nationalities and be proud of your Canadian citizenship and we won't take it away from you!" ...

RIDICULOUS!

A journalist asked a very pertinent question : " What about those who are declared as terrorists by dictarorial governments ? " the minister answered " This measure aims to strip citizenship of those who fight Canada" .... HE IS GOING TO HAVE A HELL OF A TIME determining who is a terrorist and who is not, and I suggest that he starts revoking the citizenship of most of his colleagues at the government since they are terrorizing hundreds of thousands of law abiding immigrants and are fighting Canada's integrity !

 

[txboyscout]

Increasing residency requirement from 3 to 4 years does not make any sense. It will be effective only for 2 years the rule passed, afterwards CIC will keep getting same amount of applications as they are getting now.

So during this 2 years period of time, unless they get rid of backlog, faster the processing time and hire new workforces; situation is not going to change.

Yes but that new backlog will happen after the next Federal election

 

[keesio]

It should be termed "the New Citizens' waiver of Charter Rights" or the "anti-Ignatieff-Kenney Clause" since they both spent significant years residing outside of Canada or the "Your kids can't study abroad like "real" Canadians can" clause or the "Your kids can't take a working holiday" clause or the "You'll never be a "real" Canadian" clause.

Correct me if I am wrong but I interpreted it as intent. It doesn't bind you to it if you change your mind. Kind of like the PNP thing where people declare intent to land and reside in a province but then move later.

 

[us2yow]

As noted elsewhere in the same forum by me..

Golly ! have you seen the sheer length of this document. I mean....my jaw dropped when I saw the amount of detail....


http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Language=E&Mode=1&DocId=6410225&File=4

It confuses the heck out of the reader. Imagine those on the Standing Committee and all the heated debate (hope they read it ! )


This is WAY longer and much more convoluted than I thought ! I can see a lot of anger, confusion, debate .... Parliament ends sometime in June....so who knows when it will become a law (after royal assent)...AND THEN WHEN thereafter the new law will come into force.