Bill Detail
An Act to amend the Citizenship Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
This enactment amends the Citizenship Act to provide a path to citizenship for certain persons who were not citizens when they transitioned out of the care of a child welfare agency or foster parent. It also amends the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to provide that a removal order cannot be enforced against such persons who are applying for citizenship until a final decision is made on their application.
This bill, known as Bill C-274, aims to create a pathway to Canadian citizenship for individuals who were in the care of child welfare agencies or foster parents and did not become citizens while in care. It seeks to address gaps in the protection of rights for vulnerable children who are not citizens.
The bill proposes amendments to the Citizenship Act to allow certain individuals who aged out of the child welfare system to apply for citizenship. It also amends the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to prevent the deportation of these individuals while their citizenship application is being processed, ensuring they cannot be removed from Canada until a final decision is made. This aims to protect children who have been in state care, ensuring they have the security of citizenship and aren't sent to countries they have no connection to.