The Canadian government has officially repealed a controversial law that for years denied citizenship to children born outside the country to Canadian parents who were themselves born abroad. The legislation, introduced under former Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government in 2009, has been widely criticized as discriminatory and has now been eliminated following a 2023 Ontario Superior Court ruling that declared it unconstitutional.
The Legacy of 'Lost Canadians'
The repealed legislation created what became known as "lost Canadians" - individuals who were effectively stateless despite their direct family connections to Canada. These people found themselves denied Canadian citizenship through no fault of their own, but simply because of their parentage and place of birth.
The law required Canadian citizens born abroad to demonstrate a "substantial connection" to Canada by having lived in the country for at least three years before their child's birth. This provision created two tiers of Canadian citizenship and affected numerous families across the country.
Personal Connections and Broader Implications
The author, Catherine Ford, reveals how this legislation could have personally affected her own family. "I was born in London, England, to an Irish mother and a Canadian father," she writes. "My mother automatically became a citizen through marriage before regulations changed in 1947. Had my parents' citizenship situations been reversed, I would have been one of the 'lost' Canadians."
Ford arrived in Canada with her mother at Pier 21 in January 1946, making the cross-country journey to Calgary under circumstances that highlight the complex history of Canadian immigration and citizenship policies.
A Step Toward Inclusive Citizenship
The repeal of this law marks a significant step in addressing what many considered a racist policy that contradicted Canada's reputation as a welcoming nation. The legislation had remained in effect for 16 years before being struck down by the courts and formally repealed this month.
Many Canadians remained unaware of the law's existence because it didn't directly affect them, impacting primarily immigrant families who had come to Canada seeking better opportunities and had contributed significantly to Canadian society.
The elimination of this legislation represents more than just a policy change - it signifies a move toward a more inclusive understanding of Canadian identity that doesn't depend on birthplace or ancestry, but rather embraces the diverse ways people connect with and contribute to the country.
