Immigration Minister Lena Diab's handling of the 'lost Canadians' citizenship crisis has sparked questions about who is in charge at the Immigration Department, after she admitted she was unsure why citizenship certificates were being revoked. The issue came to light during a press conference last week when Prime Minister Mark Carney was asked whether affected individuals deserved a timely explanation. 'The simple answer is yes,' Carney replied tersely, indicating his displeasure.
Background of the citizenship by descent rule
Historically, Canadian citizenship by descent was limited to the first generation born or adopted outside Canada. However, courts struck down this limitation as unconstitutional, forcing Ottawa to pass a law granting citizenship to second and subsequent generations born abroad, provided they could prove direct lineage to a Canadian 'anchor' ancestor. The Parliamentary Budget Office estimated that 115,000 people over five years could reclaim or be granted citizenship, costing the government around $20 million.
Surge in applications and suspension of certificates
Despite Diab's claim to a parliamentary committee that the department did not anticipate a surge, earlier this month the Immigration Department suspended and recalled a number of citizenship certificates issued under the new rules. People who had already obtained citizenship were ordered to return their certificates pending a review, and informed they might not be entitled to hold citizenship after all. No reason was offered beyond potential problems with documentation not being from original source authorities.
Diab's vague response
At a press conference last week, Diab stated she was taking the issue 'very, very seriously' and had instructed the department to investigate 'the second I found there was something, that I wasn't sure what it was.' She added that no new applications were being finalized and all applications were under review. However, critics note that Diab failed to provide clear answers, especially when asked what led to the suspension of certificates for new citizens who had sold homes in the U.S. to move to Canada. 'It is serious,' she reiterated, sticking to talking points.
Impact on affected applicants
The uncertainty directly affects 4,100 successful applicants under this stream, whose futures remain up in the air. Good politicians, observers say, calm anxieties by demonstrating leadership and addressing concerns. Diab's explanation that the Immigration Department was investigating made it sound like no one, including the minister, knew what was going on. 'Something' was amiss, but by her own admission, Diab wasn't sure what it was.
