Bill C-37, which will amend Canada’s Citizenship Act, was introduced to restore Canadian citizenship to the tens of thousands who lost, or who never had Canadian citizenship because of several little-known particularities in the Act. The Senate recently passed the bill after third reading. It will become law no later than a year following Royal Assent.

"By introducing this legislation last year, our Government took decisive action to help those people who had their citizenship questioned, and to protect the value of Canadian citizenship for the future," stated Citizenship and Immigration Minister Diane Finley.

Once implemented, the law will give citizenship to:

• People who became citizens when the first Citizenship Act took effect on January 1, 1947 (including people born in Canada prior to 1947 and war brides) and who then lost their citizenship;
• Anyone who was born in Canada or became a Canadian on or after January 1, 1947, and who then lost citizenship; and
• Anyone born abroad to a Canadian on or after January 1, 1947, if not already a citizen, but only if they are the first generation born abroad.

Don Chapman, spokesperson for the Lost Canadians Organization said that "This law is a victory not just for those who lost their citizenship, but for all Canadians as well."