Why I Oppose Bill C-3: A Flawed Approach to Citizenship
As your representative in Calgary Centre, I take my responsibility seriously to ensure your voices are heard in Parliament. That’s why I feel compelled to speak out against Bill C-3—legislation that, in my view, is deeply flawed and risks undermining the integrity of Canadian citizenship.
Bill C-3 is essentially a rehash of Bill C-71 from the last Parliament, and it suffers from the same issues. Instead of addressing urgent national concerns like the economy, debt, or infrastructure, the government is once again prioritizing a bill that opens the door to abuse and weakens what it means to be Canadian.
“Canadian citizenship is not just a passport. It is a privilege, a responsibility and a bond to this country. Bill C-3 would weaken that bond.”
Greg McLean, MP – House of Commons Debates – June 19 2025
Let me be clear: I support fixing the issue of “lost Canadians”—those who, due to legislative gaps, have been unfairly excluded from citizenship. Senator Yonah Martin’s Bill S-245 took a targeted, sensible approach to this problem. But Bill C-3 goes far beyond that. It proposes eliminating the first-generation limit on citizenship for children born abroad, allowing anyone with a Canadian parent who spent just 1,095 non-consecutive days in Canada to claim citizenship. No background checks. No meaningful connection to Canada. Just a loophole that cheapens the value of citizenship.
This isn’t about compassion—it’s about political theatre. The government already has the tools to address lost Canadians through ministerial discretion. Instead, they’re pushing sweeping changes that could lead to tens of thousands of new citizens with little or no ties to our country. That’s not sustainable, especially when our healthcare and housing systems are already under pressure.
We’ve seen the consequences of mismanaged immigration policy: skyrocketing numbers, overwhelmed services, and broken promises to those who genuinely want to build a life here. Citizenship should be earned through commitment and contribution—not handed out through legislative shortcuts.
Canadian citizenship is a privilege, not a convenience. It’s a bond to this country, built on shared values and responsibilities. Bill C-3 threatens to erode that bond, and I will continue to stand against it.
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