HANSARD: Debating Bill C-71 An Act to Amend the Citizenship Act

Debates of Sept. 17th, 2024
House of Commons Hansard #337 of the 44th Parliament, 1st Session
Citizenship Act
Government Orders

September 17th, 2024 / 1:55 p.m.

 

Jenny Kwan Vancouver East, BC
NDP

Madam Speaker, what has become clear is that the Conservatives are refusing to acknowledge that Bill C-71 would restore the rights of Canadians that were taken away from them unconstitutionally 15 years ago by the Conservatives. That is what we are talking about. These are not immigrants. They are Canadians. They were deemed to be a lower class of Canadians by the Conservatives.

The Conservatives keep saying that the NDP and the Liberals voted with them on Bill C-37 15 years ago. Do members know why? It is because Stephen Harper, at that time, put out an edict and said that if the bill was not passed unanimously, it would mean that war veterans and war brides would go to their graves without citizenship, and that was wrong.

I wonder if the Conservatives will just take a moment to understand the history and understand that by voting against Bill C-71, they are denying once again Canadians the right to citizenship, unconstitutionally.

 

Jamil Jivani Durham, ON
Conservative

Madam Speaker, members can make all the arguments they want in favour of Bill C-71, but why are none of our questions being answered? How many people? Where are the criminal background checks? Why can we not do an economic impact assessment? They should put it forward as part of their legislation, and at least have the respect, have the decency, to tell the Canadian people what impact these policies are going to have on our country and our communities. At least respect the Canadian people enough to give them that information.

AS SPOKEN

Citizenship ActGovernment Orders

1:55 p.m.

NDP

Jenny Kwan Vancouver East, BC

Madam Speaker, that is an outrageous response. The member is talking about the very Canadians who have been denied their rights as though they are not Canadians. They do not have their Canadian citizenship because of an unconstitutional law created by the Conservatives.

Will the member recognize that second-generation family members born abroad are in fact Canadians, as recognized by the courts?

AS SPOKEN

Citizenship ActGovernment Orders

1:55 p.m.

Conservative

Jamil Jivani Durham, ON

Madam Speaker, I am very happy to recognize that the NDP-Liberals are advancing a watered-down and weak substantial connection test in Bill C-71. That is how they are rationalizing the continued population growth in our country, despite the fact that Canadians of all backgrounds believe that immigration levels are too high, that the influx of people coming into Canada is too high and that it is putting a constraint on our economy and our social services. Why will they not do what is best for Canada and stop being obsessed with making life harder for everyone in our country?

 

https://openparliament.ca/debates/2024/9/17/jenny-kwan-3/

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