CITIZENSHIP CHANGES WILL HELP CHILDREN ADOPTED ABROAD(May 15, 2006) The federal government has moved to make it easier for children adopted abroad to become Canadian citizens. Bill C-14, An Act to Amend the Citizenship Act (Adoption), was introduced in the House of Commons on May 15, 2006 by the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration (CIC), Monte Solberg. For the text of the bill, see http://www.parl.gc.ca/39/1/parlbus/chambus/house/bills/government/C-14/C-14_1/C-14-3E.html. Bill C-14 would amend the Citizenship Act so that children adopted abroad by Canadians could get Canadian citizenship without first having to become permanent residents, thus avoiding the usual immigration process. The amendment represents an important move to end the differential treatment of adopted children vs. children born to Canadians. If the bill passes, a foreign-born adopted child would acquire Canadian citizenship as soon as the adoption is finalized, as long as the parents have applied for citizenship in the child's name before they leave Canada. According to the CIC news release at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/press/06/0603-e.html, the amendment will also benefit adoptive parents who have pending citizenship applications. Once the legislation takes effect, if the adopted child is found not to be eligible for citizenship under the current law, CIC will assess the application under the new law. More information is available from the CIC Call Centre, 1-888-242-2100. It's the fifth attempt in eight years to make much-needed changes to the Citizenship Act, which dates from 1977. Previous attempts were Bill C-63 in 1998, Bill C-16 in 1999, Bill C-18 in 2002 and Bill C-76 in 2005. All failed to reach third reading. Bill C-76 died on the order paper on Nov. 28, 2005 as parliament dissolved in preparation for the federal election of Jan. 23, 2006. Bill C-14 now has to pass through second and third reading in Parliament, and the details of implementation need to be spelled out in regulations. CIC has invited the Adoption Council of Canada and other stakeholders to give input to writing the regulations, to ensure the needs of Canadian parents are met and the road to citizenship is smooth and expedient. “ This is a major step forward for foreign-born adopted children and their adoptive families,” said Sandra Scarth, President of the Adoption Council of Canada. She urged the public to help ensure the legislation is passed quickly, by writing to their MPs and the members of the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration. You can find your member of Parliament using your postal code.
See http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/people/house/PostalCode.asp?lang=E&source=sm. Two previous ACC news items on changes to the Citizenship Act are:
For the legislative stages completed by bills in the House of Commons, see "Status of House Business", http://www.parl.gc.ca/39/1/parlbus/chambus/house/status/statuscov-e.html. The texts of bills are at http://www.parl.gc.ca/common/Bills_House_Government.asp?Language=E&Parl=39&Ses=1. For definitions of adoption terms, go to http://www.adoption.ca and click "Glossary". |
ABOUT ACCBased in Ottawa, the Adoption Council of Canada is a federally chartered, charitable organization which aims to inform and educate Canadians about all aspects of adoption, and encourage the adoption of children needing permanent homes. Interested in domestic adoption? Consult Canada's only national photolisting web site, "Canada's Waiting Kids", http://www.canadaswaitingkids.ca, run by the Adoption Council of Canada. It shows photos and profiles of children in the care of Canadian child welfare agencies and waiting for permanent adoptive families. For definitions of adoption terms, go to http://www.adoption.ca and click "Glossary". Source: Adoption Council of Canada, www.adoption.ca Copyright 2006 Adoption Council of Canada. Reproduction permitted, if credited "Source: Adoption Council of Canada, www.adoption.ca". Please make a request to reprint, so we can track where ACC news items are used. Send your request to acc@adoption.ca. |
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