Applications for Canadian citizenship certificates from individuals worldwide have been on the rise in recent months, with a significant surge in submissions from the United States, as reported by CBC News. The enactment of the “Lost Canadian” legislation by Parliament last year has led to a nearly 50 percent increase in the number of individuals receiving certificates between April 1 and May 31, based on new data obtained by CBC.
Under Bill C-3, individuals can now attain citizenship by proving lineage to a Canadian ancestor, even if that connection spans several generations back. This legislation was put into effect after court rulings deemed the previous restriction of citizenship to only the first generation born outside of Canada as overly limiting.
From mid-December, when Bill C-3 became operational, until May 31, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) granted approximately 6,100 citizenship certificates to eligible individuals. This marks a notable increase from the 4,075 certificates issued under Bill C-3 from mid-December to March 31.
Furthermore, an additional 17,390 individuals have obtained certificates due to having a Canadian parent, whereas previously, being born outside of Canada required having a Canadian parent to qualify for citizenship.
The recent certificates enable the newly recognized Canadian citizens, totaling 23,490, to apply for Canadian passports and reside and work in Canada. However, they are ineligible to vote in federal elections unless they have resided in Canada at some point in their lives.
Americans make up nearly half of the individuals recognized between mid-December and the end of May. Data from IRCC reveals that 3,110 Americans qualified for Canadian citizenship certificates under Bill C-3, while another 8,125 Americans received certificates because of having a Canadian-born parent.
Despite these numbers, the backlog of citizenship certificate applications awaiting approval has surged. In May, around 70,400 applications were pending, a significant increase from the 56,000 in April. Presently, the IRCC website indicates that 121,800 individuals are awaiting a decision, with estimated wait times doubling from 12 to 25 months as of August 10.
The potential pool of individuals eligible for Canadian citizenship under Bill C-3 varies widely, with estimates ranging from hundreds of thousands to 115,000 by the parliamentary budget officer. The surge in applications was not foreseen by Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab, who anticipated tens of thousands over time without a sudden influx.
As the demand for genealogical records to validate Canadian lineage rises, Canadian archivists are experiencing a significant uptick in requests. The Association of Canadian Archivists notes a 100 to 300 percent increase in inquiries, particularly from the United States, for records dating back centuries, leading to overwhelmed archivists and stretched resources.
Moreover, archivists are facing challenges as the list of accepted documents by IRCC keeps evolving, necessitating more funding for archives countrywide to meet the demand sparked by Bill C-3. The recent suspension of around 100 citizenship certificates has added to the workload, with pending issues awaiting resolution.
