The Canadian Council for Refugees welcomes the introduction of amendments to the Citizenship Act through Bill C-6, reversing many provisions of Bill C-24, the Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act that we opposed.
The CCR also commends the new government for making this a priority piece of legislation. Bill C-6 provides an excellent opportunity to create an inclusive citizenship regime that promotes maximum civic participation and engagement. We need to bring down barriers to citizenship, especially for already disadvantaged groups such as refugees, the elderly, and women. In line with Canada’s international obligations, we encourage the government to craft a new citizenship regime to which all applicants will have equal access without discrimination.