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BECOMING A CANADIAN CITIZEN

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Page 1: BECOMING A CANADIAN CITIZEN. A Canadian citizen understands and promotes Canadian values: Peace, safety Law & order Freedom, democracy Multiculturalism,

BECOMING A CANADIAN CITIZEN

Page 2: BECOMING A CANADIAN CITIZEN. A Canadian citizen understands and promotes Canadian values: Peace, safety Law & order Freedom, democracy Multiculturalism,

A Canadian citizen understands and promotes Canadian values:

• Peace, safety• Law & order• Freedom, democracy• Multiculturalism, mutual respect• Volunteerism, Community Development

Page 3: BECOMING A CANADIAN CITIZEN. A Canadian citizen understands and promotes Canadian values: Peace, safety Law & order Freedom, democracy Multiculturalism,

Rights & Responsibilities• Charter of Rights and

Freedoms (speech, religion, life & liberty...)

• Vote• Be a candidate• Canadian passport• A voice in the future of

Canada!

• Obey the law• Responsible for self &

family• Vote• Serve on a jury• Help others, respect• Protect heritage &

environment

Page 4: BECOMING A CANADIAN CITIZEN. A Canadian citizen understands and promotes Canadian values: Peace, safety Law & order Freedom, democracy Multiculturalism,

1. Application2. No criminal prohibitions3. Residence4. Language5. Knowledge of Canada

Requirements for Citizenship:

Page 5: BECOMING A CANADIAN CITIZEN. A Canadian citizen understands and promotes Canadian values: Peace, safety Law & order Freedom, democracy Multiculturalism,

Strengthening the Citizenship Act: Bill C-24

Page 6: BECOMING A CANADIAN CITIZEN. A Canadian citizen understands and promotes Canadian values: Peace, safety Law & order Freedom, democracy Multiculturalism,

Strengthening the Citizenship Act: Bill C-24

A comparative before and after view of the major changes to the Citizenship Act

Page 7: BECOMING A CANADIAN CITIZEN. A Canadian citizen understands and promotes Canadian values: Peace, safety Law & order Freedom, democracy Multiculturalism,

STREAMLINE DECISION MAKING – August 1, 2014

– Citizenship grant is a three-step decision-making process

– Changes citizenship grant to a single-step process that reduces duplication and improves processing times.   

• Before • After

Page 8: BECOMING A CANADIAN CITIZEN. A Canadian citizen understands and promotes Canadian values: Peace, safety Law & order Freedom, democracy Multiculturalism,

COMPLETE APPLICATIONS – August 1, 2014

– Limited authority to define what constitutes a complete application

– Establishes authority to define what constitutes a complete application and what evidence applicants must provide 

• Before • After

Page 9: BECOMING A CANADIAN CITIZEN. A Canadian citizen understands and promotes Canadian values: Peace, safety Law & order Freedom, democracy Multiculturalism,

FAST TRACK FOR CANADIAN FORCES MEMBERS – August 1, 2014

– No fast-track mechanism for citizenship for members of the military to honour their service to the Canadian Armed Forces and address deployment challenges

– Creates a fast-track mechanism for citizenship for PRs serving with—and individuals on exchange with— the Canadian Armed Forces to honour their service to Canada

• Before • After

Page 10: BECOMING A CANADIAN CITIZEN. A Canadian citizen understands and promotes Canadian values: Peace, safety Law & order Freedom, democracy Multiculturalism,

MINISTER DECIDES DISCRETIONARY GRANTS – August 1, 2014

– Governor-in-Council final decision maker on discretionary grants of citizenship

– Gives CIC Minister the authority to decide on discretionary grants of citizenship

• Before • After

Page 11: BECOMING A CANADIAN CITIZEN. A Canadian citizen understands and promotes Canadian values: Peace, safety Law & order Freedom, democracy Multiculturalism,

RESIDENCE – Summer 2015

– Residence for three out of four years (1,095 days);

– No requirement that resident be physically present;

– Time as a non-permanent resident (non-PR) may be counted toward residence for citizenship;

– No intent to reside provision

– Requires physical presence for four years (1,460 days) out of the six years;

– 183 days minimum of physical presence per year in four out of six years;

– Eliminates use of time spent in Canada as a non-permanent resident (non-PR);

– Introduces “intent to reside” provision

• Before • After

Page 12: BECOMING A CANADIAN CITIZEN. A Canadian citizen understands and promotes Canadian values: Peace, safety Law & order Freedom, democracy Multiculturalism,

LANGUAGE AND KNOWLEGDE – Summer 2015

– Adult applicants aged 18–54 must meet language requirements and pass knowledge test; upper age limit of 54 currently established by policy, not in legislation;

– Applicants can meet knowledge requirement with assistance of an interpreter

– Requires applicants aged 14–64 to meet language requirements and pass knowledge test;

– Applicants must meet knowledge requirement in English or French

• Before • After

Page 13: BECOMING A CANADIAN CITIZEN. A Canadian citizen understands and promotes Canadian values: Peace, safety Law & order Freedom, democracy Multiculturalism,

BAR FOR FOREIGN CRIMINALITY – Summer 2015

– Bars giving citizenship to people with domestic criminal charges and convictions

– Expands bar on getting citizenship to people with foreign criminal charges and convictions

• Before • After

Page 14: BECOMING A CANADIAN CITIZEN. A Canadian citizen understands and promotes Canadian values: Peace, safety Law & order Freedom, democracy Multiculturalism,

FRAUD – Summer 2015

– Consultants not required to be registered or regulated in order to represent individuals in citizenship manner;

– Few tools to deter fraud and ensure program integrity;

– Fines and penalties for fraud are a maximum of $1,000 and/or one year in prison

– Defines who is an authorized representative and provides authority to develop regulations to designate a regulatory body whose members would be authorized to act as consultants in citizenship matters;

– Authority to refuse applicant for fraud; fines and penalties for fraud are a maximum $100,000 and/or five years in prison

• Before • After

Page 15: BECOMING A CANADIAN CITIZEN. A Canadian citizen understands and promotes Canadian values: Peace, safety Law & order Freedom, democracy Multiculturalism,

INCOME TAXES – Summer 2015

– No requirement to file Canadian income taxes to be eligible for a grant of citizenship

– Requires adult applicants to file Canadian income taxes, as  required under the Income Tax Act, to be eligible for citizenship 

• Before • After

Page 16: BECOMING A CANADIAN CITIZEN. A Canadian citizen understands and promotes Canadian values: Peace, safety Law & order Freedom, democracy Multiculturalism,

REVOKING DUAL CITIZENS – Summer 2015

– No authority to revoke citizenship for acts against Canada’s national interest

– Establishes the authority to revoke Canadian citizenship from dual citizens and deny it to PRs who were members of an armed force or an organized armed group engaged in armed conflict with Canada

– Authority to revoke Canadian citizenship and deny it to PRs who are convicted of terrorism, high treason, treason, or spying offences, depending on the sentence received

• Before • After

Page 17: BECOMING A CANADIAN CITIZEN. A Canadian citizen understands and promotes Canadian values: Peace, safety Law & order Freedom, democracy Multiculturalism,

O Canada! Our home and native land!True patriot love in all thy sons command.With glowing hearts we see thee rise,The True North strong and free!From far and wideO Canada, we stand on guard for thee.God keep our land glorious and free!O Canada we stand on guard for thee.O Canada we stand on guard for thee.

O CANADA