the CanadaVisa Team - 20 July, 2015
Days before leaving the post of Minister of Citizenship and Immigration to become Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, the Honourable Monte Solberg sent a letter to Members of Parliament (MP) reminding them that some Canadians' citizenships may lapse if they do not re-apply prior to their 28th birthday.
The provision, found in the 1977 Citizenship Act, applies to Canadian citizens who were born outside of Canada to a Canadian parent born outside of Canada. This section of the law however is little known as it did not begin to be enforced until February 2005 - the 28th birthday of those born after the law was passed. While there are not yet any publicized cases of citizenships being revoked under this regulation, the federal government has begun stamping expiration dates on citizenship certificates.
While the intention of the law was to apply to those who do not have any ties to Canada, many MPs expressed concern that resident Canadians could unwittingly find themselves refused when they apply for their pension or a new passport. Liberal MP Jim Karygiannis has stated that he will be pushing to repeal this section of the 1977 Act. He argued that there should not be distinctions made between Canadian citizens based on country of birth, saying that "a Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian - period, full stop".
