Canadian Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander announced yesterday that reforms to the Citizenship Act have received final passage and Royal Assent. These reforms are the first major changes to the program since 1977. The changes will affect the application process for immigration to Canada, and enforce new rules for some Canadian citizens.

According to the government, the changes were put in place to streamline the immigration process, and to reinforce the value of Canadian citizenship. They also aim to crack down on citizenship fraud, and to protect Canada’s interests and values.

The bill has created controversy since its announcement in February, as the government now has the ability to revoke or deny citizenship to individuals who commit ‘acts of terrorism or acts against Canadian interests’.

“Our government is proud to announce that the first comprehensive reforms to the Citizenship Act in a generation have now become law. Moving forward, the value of citizenship will be reinforced and new citizens will be able to acquire citizenship more quickly,” said Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander. “Our government has strengthened the rules around access to citizenship to ensure that they reflect its true value, and that new citizens are better prepared for full participation for life in Canada. Canadian citizenship is highly valued around the world and, with this balanced set of reforms, our government is ensuring that this remains so.”

Click here for a full outline of the changes made under Bill C-24.