Title: Conservative MP Proposes Ending Birthright Citizenship in Canada
OTTAWA — A Conservative MP has called for an end to birthright citizenship in Canada, a move that reflects growing concerns about immigration among Canadians. Calgary MP Michelle Rempel Garner made her proposal during a parliamentary committee meeting on Tuesday. She suggested an amendment to the government’s “lost Canadians” bill, which seeks to clarify citizenship rules for Canadians born abroad.
Rempel Garner argued that citizenship should only be granted to those born in Canada to at least one parent who is a citizen or permanent resident. "Being a Canadian citizen should mean something to anyone who acquires it," she stated in a social media post. "That meaning should be derived from significant enough ties to our nation that a deep understanding of the responsibilities associated with being Canadian becomes joyfully entrenched within a new citizen’s fibre."
Despite support from fellow Conservatives, her amendment was rejected by Liberal and Bloc Québécois MPs. The Conservative Party has been vocal about immigration issues, with leader Pierre Poilievre promising to eliminate the temporary foreign worker program and advocating for legislation that would prevent judges from considering immigration status during criminal sentencing.
Recent polling indicates that immigration is a top concern for many Canadians. According to Abacus Data, 27 percent of respondents identified immigration as one of their top three issues, surpassing concerns about climate change and crime. The survey showed that 38 percent of Conservative voters ranked immigration as a priority, compared to 18 percent of Liberal voters.
The Liberal government had previously aimed to increase immigration numbers significantly, targeting 500,000 newcomers annually. However, it has since revised its approach, lowering targets for permanent residents and capping the number of temporary residents. Many Canadians still express concerns that immigration affects their job and housing opportunities.
Rempel Garner highlighted a troubling trend, citing social media posts that suggest asylum seekers or temporary residents should have children as a means to secure their stay in Canada. She noted a 590 percent increase in the number of children born in Canada to mothers without residency, with 1,610 such cases reported last year. She emphasized that these statistics do not account for individuals on work visas or international students.
Justice Minister Sean Fraser opposed the proposed changes, stating, "When you start to pick and choose who amongst Canadians gets the full benefits of citizenship, you obviously enter into a very troublesome conversation." Former immigration minister Marc Miller also rejected the proposal, asserting that being born in Canada establishes a fundamental connection to the country.
Rempel Garner pointed out that several Western countries, including Ireland, Germany, and the United Kingdom, do not grant birthright citizenship. She argued that the Liberal government's immigration policies necessitate a reevaluation of Canada's approach to citizenship. "The Liberals have precipitated the need to have a conversation about moving Canada away from its outlier status," she wrote in an email.