Clock ticking to fix lost Canadians' rule

Goverment missed deadline to restore second-generation citizenship rights

- NICHOLAS KEUNG

Victoria Maruyama is among six Canadian families who took the federal government to court to regain citizenship for children born overseas. Six months ago, Ottawa was ordered by an Ontario court to repeal what's known as the "second-generation cut-off" rule by June 20.

The federal government has been given a last-minute reprieve to roll out a new law to restore the citizenship rights of “lost Canadians” born outside Canada.

That’s despite its failure to have a proper plan in place to address urgent cases affected by the delay.

Six months ago, Ottawa was ordered by an Ontario court to repeal what’s known as the “second-generation cut-off” rule and amend the current Citizenship Act by June 20, after a judge ruled it’s unconstitutional for Canada to deny automatic citizenship to children born abroad because their parents also happened to be born overseas.

On Wednesday, at the eleventh hour, the government pleaded for a six-month extension of the deadline, arguing that it had already introduced an amendment bill, C-71, in May to confer citizenship to those affected by the current law and address the legislative gaps to ensure others won’t fall through the cracks in the future.