The parliamentary immigration committee is suggesting that most adults eligible for birthright citizenship under the “Lost Canadians” bill meet similar requirements to immigrant applicants, including language proficiency, knowledge of Canadian history, and security checks.
MPs on the committee approved changes to Bill C-3 on Tuesday, which will now be sent back to the House of Commons for final approval. The bill was introduced in response to a 2023 Ontario Superior Court decision that struck down a law from the Stephen Harper era, preventing Canadians born abroad from passing on citizenship if their children were not born in Canada.
Under the proposed bill, individuals can pass down citizenship if they can prove a strong connection to Canada by spending a total of 1,095 days (three years) in the country. Conservative amendments have also included language and other requirements, along with a provision that the 1,095 days must be completed within five consecutive years.
The government faces a court-imposed deadline to pass the legislation before midnight on Nov. 21. Failure to do so could result in an unspecified number of individuals automatically obtaining Canadian citizenship.
[Source](https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/lost-canadians-bill-committee-9.6931818)