Canada's Conservative Party is calling on the federal government to reinstate mandatory in-person citizenship ceremonies, arguing that the current system of allowing a virtual oath undermines the significance of becoming a Canadian.
Criticism of the "Click-to-Swear" System
Conservative Immigration Critic Michelle Rempel Garner publicly challenged the Liberal government's policy on Wednesday, December 3, 2025. She highlighted that in the past year, more than half of all new citizens took their oath by simply checking a box online. "That's crazy," Rempel Garner stated to reporters in the House of Commons foyer. "There's no way to justify this practice, and with support for immigration at an all-time low, returning to inclusive, nation-building ceremonies is a no-brainer."
The virtual ceremony option was introduced in 2023 under then-Immigration Minister Sean Fraser. The Department of Citizenship and Immigration promoted it as a efficiency measure, claiming it could reduce processing times by two to three months and help address significant application backlogs.
A Lost "Rite of Passage"
Opposition to the online system isn't confined to politicians. Prospective citizens themselves have expressed disappointment, telling media outlets that the in-person ceremony is a cherished "rite of passage." For many, it represents the meaningful culmination of a long, often expensive, and emotionally taxing journey to secure Canadian citizenship.
Rempel Garner tied the issue to broader concerns about the value of citizenship, suggesting that a quick digital transaction fails to foster the same sense of inclusion and solemnity as a formal, communal event.
Broader Immigration Powers Under Scrutiny
The Conservative critic also raised alarms about sweeping new powers contained within the government's border security legislation, Bill C-12 (the Strengthening Canada's Immigration System and Borders Act). Currently under committee review, Part 7 of the bill grants the government authority to "make an order to cancel, suspend or vary" visas or permanent residence documents when deemed in the "public interest."
Rempel Garner announced she has proposed an amendment to prevent the government from using these powers to mass change, extend, or cancel visas, particularly for temporary foreign workers. She noted that during parliamentary debate, officials could not clearly explain how they intended to use these broad powers.
Conservatives have already successfully amended the bill to require the government to report to Parliament on any use of the Part 7 powers and for the minister to appear before committee when they are invoked.
This push for transparency comes alongside a National Post report suggesting Statistics Canada's last census missed approximately 28% of non-permanent residents, a group that includes international students, asylum claimants, and temporary foreign workers.