Applications for Canadian citizenship certificates have been on the rise globally, with a significant surge in requests from the United States, as per recent findings by CBC News. The adoption of the “Lost Canadian” legislation by Parliament last year led to a nearly 50% increase in the number of individuals obtaining certificates between April 1 and May 31, according to data from CBC.
The implementation of Bill C-3 allows individuals to claim citizenship if they can demonstrate descent from a Canadian ancestor, even if that ancestor emigrated generations ago. Following the enactment of Bill C-3 in mid-December, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) granted approximately 6,100 citizenship certificates by May 31. This marks a rise from the 4,075 certificates issued from mid-December to March 31.
Additionally, about 17,390 individuals have acquired certificates due to having a Canadian parent, a requirement that was mandatory before the bill’s passing. Notably, around half of the newly recognized citizens are from the United States, with 3,110 Americans meeting the criteria under Bill C-3 and another 8,125 based on having a Canadian-born parent.
The number of pending citizenship certificate applications has surged, reaching 121,800 individuals awaiting decisions. This increase is substantial, with 70,400 applications pending in May, up from 56,000 in April. The estimated wait time for a decision has doubled from 12 to 25 months as of August 10.
Estimates suggest that the impact of Bill C-3 could affect a considerable number of individuals, with projections varying widely. The parliamentary budget officer approximates that around 115,000 people could be impacted by the legislative changes.
Furthermore, archivists in Canada are experiencing a spike in requests for genealogical records needed to verify lineage for citizenship under Bill C-3. This surge in demand has strained resources, with requests increasing by 100 to 300% at some institutions, particularly from the United States.
The Association of Canadian Archivists is advocating for increased funding to address the escalating demand for records necessitated by Bill C-3. The association highlights the evolving list of acceptable documents and the emotional toll on archivists dealing with the influx of requests. These challenges coincide with the recent suspension of several citizenship certificates by IRCC, raising concerns among archivists and critics about potential disruptions in the citizenship application process.