Ottawa — The Canadian Bar Association (CBA) says that changes are needed to Bill C-24, Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act, and offers 20 recommendations that would improve key areas of the legislation.
The CBA submission notes that requiring applicants to indicate that they intend to live in Canada if granted citizenship may be unconstitutional, as it would distinguish between naturalized and other Canadian citizens, and would violate mobility rights under the Charter.
Barbara J. Caruso, Executive Member, National Immigration Law Section, and Barbara Jackman, member of the CBA’s National Immigration Law Section, will appear before the Senate Committee on behalf of the CBA. The CBA submission was presented to the Commons Citizenship and Immigration Standing Committee on April 30.
The CBA is dedicated to supporting the rule of law, improvements in the law, and the administration of justice. Some 37,500 lawyers, law teachers, and law students from across Canada are members.