Canada passes new citizenship and immigration act
Canada passes new citizenship and immigration act
The aim of the changes is to make certain that those applying for citizenship are fully prepared for integration and participation in Canadian society. The government is hoping that the requirements will help foster a better understanding of the country’s traditions and value systems..
According to Immigration and Citizenship minister Chris Alexander, an important benefit of the new law will be faster processing for citizenship applications. Applications which formerly comprised three steps and took several years will now only involve one step and should be completed within less than a year by 2015/2016.
Speeding up the process is expected to clear around 80 per cent of the current backlog. A major change to residency requirements will include the maintaining of applicants’ actual physical presence in Canada for the period required before citizenship is granted.
More applicants than under the previous rules will now need to pass a knowledge test as well as meeting stricter language requirements, thus preparing new citizens for participation in local communities. ‘Lost’ Canadians born pre-1947 and their children born outside the country will enjoy automatic citizenship, and applicants with strong ties to the country will benefit from new provisions.
The amended Citizenship Act will also include harsher penalties for misrepresentation and fraud, with fines of up to CA$100,000 and jail terms of up to five years. Grounds for refusing citizenship are being expanded, with Alexander stating that the move will help strengthen the integrity of the programme.
Alexander defended the most controversial element of the new programme, the amendment which permits the removal of citizenship from dual nationals convicted of serious crimes harming to the state. Permanent residents convicted of spying, terrorism or treason, he said, will be deported and their citizenship revoked.
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