Bill S-230 explained in plain English
An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (granting citizenship to certain Canadians)
Federal Parliament bill summary, status, timeline, sponsor, votes, and official sources.
At a glance
Official Parliament of Canada snapshot for 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. MP vote breakdowns appear when the House of Commons publishes a recorded division export for that bill. Senate and House stage details include official debate/sitting links when LEGISinfo publishes them.
Our plain-language take, written for civic education.
Source: By PoliticalData.ca
This bill amends the Citizenship Act to allow certain individuals who previously lost their Canadian citizenship to regain it.
Bill S-230, titled 'An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (granting citizenship to certain Canadians)', aims to allow certain individuals who lost their Canadian citizenship to regain it. It proposes specific changes to the Citizenship Act related to the conditions under which citizenship is granted or retained.
- Amends the Citizenship Act to allow certain individuals to regain Canadian citizenship.
- Replaces a subparagraph in the Citizenship Act to include individuals who applied to retain their citizenship before April 17, 2009, and whose applications were not approved.
- Adds a new condition to the Citizenship Act for persons born outside Canada after February 14, 1977, who would be citizens if they had applied to retain their citizenship under a previous version of the law.
- Modifies provisions concerning exceptions to citizenship rules, specifically stating that a subsection does not apply to a person who was a citizen on June 11, 2015.
- Replaces a subparagraph in the Citizenship Act related to who is considered a citizen under specific paragraphs of the law.
- Individuals born outside Canada after February 14, 1977.
- Individuals who applied to retain their Canadian citizenship under provisions in effect before April 17, 2009, and whose applications were not approved.
- Individuals who were Canadian citizens on June 11, 2015.
- Allows certain individuals to regain Canadian citizenship.
- Establishes conditions for regaining citizenship for specific groups born outside Canada after February 14, 1977.
- Clarifies an exception for individuals who were citizens on June 11, 2015.
- April 17, 2009: Date before which applications to retain citizenship must have been made.
- February 14, 1977: Date after which individuals born outside Canada may be affected.
- June 11, 2015: Date on which an individual must have been a citizen for a specific exception to apply.
- The bill does not specify how individuals who meet these criteria must apply to regain their citizenship, nor does it detail the administrative process.
- The bill does not specify a date on which it will come into force, suggesting it may come into force on a day to be fixed by order of the Governor in Council, or upon Royal Assent depending on standard legislative practice not detailed in the provided text.
Changes who is considered a citizen by introducing new criteria for regaining citizenship, specifically for individuals born outside Canada after February 14, 1977, and those whose prior applications to retain citizenship were denied. It also clarifies an exception to citizenship rules based on citizenship status on June 11, 2015.
Source: Section 1
This section is replaced to specifically include individuals who applied to retain their citizenship under a provision that was in effect before April 17, 2009, and whose applications were not approved.
Source: Section 1(1)
A new condition (g.1) is added to this subsection. It states that a person born outside Canada after February 14, 1977, would be considered a citizen if they had made an application to retain citizenship under the law as it read before April 17, 2009.
Source: Section 1(2)
These subsections are replaced. The change clarifies that a specific citizenship rule (subsection 3(3)) does not apply to individuals who were already citizens on June 11, 2015.
Source: Section 1(3)
This subparagraph is replaced to refer to individuals who are citizens under paragraphs 3(1)(f), (g), or (g.1) of the Act, incorporating the new conditions introduced by this bill.
Source: Section 2
Generated using AI from official bill text. Not legal advice. It is written by PoliticalData.ca for civic education, automatically checked and spot-reviewed before publishing.
Official textParliamentary Process
Bill S-230, an Act to amend the Citizenship Act to grant citizenship to certain Canadians, completed its first reading in the Senate on March 30, 2021, and has since progressed through various Senate stages, now awaiting first reading in the House of Commons.
This record details the procedural steps for Bill S-230 in the Senate, marking its first reading on March 30, 2021. It then outlines subsequent stages including second reading, committee consideration, and third reading, before the bill moved to the House of Commons for its first reading. The bill's objective is to amend the Citizenship Act to grant citizenship to certain Canadians. The current status indicates it is awaiting first reading in the House of Commons.
This Senate sitting on March 30, 2021, included the first reading of Bill S-230, an Act to amend the Citizenship Act, alongside other legislative business and a Question Period covering various current affairs.
This artifact is a record of a Senate sitting that took place on March 30, 2021. The sitting included Senators' Statements, Routine Proceedings, Question Period, and Orders of the Day. During Routine Proceedings, Bill S-230, an Act to amend the Citizenship Act (granting citizenship to certain Canadians), was introduced and received first reading. Other bills were also introduced and read for the first time. The sitting also included the tabling of various reports, including those from the Auditor General, and discussions and motions on committee business, adjournment, and other legislative matters. Question Period covered a range of topics including the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, child care, mandatory minimum penalties, copyright reform, Canada-China relations, and the impact of Bill C-22. The Orders of the Day involved debates and decisions on various bills and motions.
This record details the completed stages of Bill S-230 in the Senate, including second reading, committee review, and third reading, before it moved to the House of Commons.
This artifact summarizes the procedural steps for Bill S-230 in the Senate. It indicates that the bill completed its second reading on June 1, 2021, and subsequently went through committee consideration and third reading. The bill's current status is that it is awaiting its first reading in the House of Commons.
During a Senate sitting on June 1, 2021, senators paid tribute to the victims of the Kamloops Indian Residential School, debated and advanced Bill S-230 regarding citizenship for certain Canadians, and addressed numerous other legislative and procedural matters, including motions on human rights, health care, and social issues.
On June 1, 2021, the Senate of Canada convened. A significant portion of the sitting was dedicated to honouring the 215 Indigenous children whose remains were discovered at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. Senators from various groups shared personal reflections and expressed sorrow and solidarity with Indigenous peoples. The Senate also addressed other parliamentary business, including tabling committee reports, passing motions, and debating various bills. Specifically related to Bill S-230, the Senate heard speeches during its second reading debate, where senators discussed its purpose and potential impacts, after which the bill was referred to a committee for further study. Other legislative matters included debates on Bill S-209 (voting age), Bill S-229 (decriminalization of illegal substances), and Bill S-4 (Parliament of Canada Act amendments), as well as motions concerning sanctions against Chinese officials and the adoption of anti-racism as a pillar of the Canada Health Act. Several inquiries and motions were also discussed, including the long-term care system, the link between immigration and prosperity, and the residential school system. The sitting concluded with various debates being adjourned and motions being withdrawn.
Bill S-230, an act to amend the Citizenship Act regarding citizenship for certain Canadians, has completed its committee review in the Senate and is now awaiting first reading in the House of Commons.
This record indicates that Bill S-230, concerning the granting of citizenship to certain Canadians, has completed the 'Consideration in committee' stage in the Senate. This stage involves a detailed review of the bill by a committee. The bill is now awaiting its first reading in the House of Commons.
On June 17, 2021, the Senate reported Bill S-230, an Act to amend the Citizenship Act, without amendment, following its consideration by the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology.
The Senate met on June 17, 2021. The day's proceedings included tributes to departing Senate pages, statements on World Refugee Day, Filipino Heritage Month, Municipal Elections, and National Duty Counsel Day. Routine proceedings saw the tabling of the Sixth Report of the National Finance Committee on Supplementary Estimates (A) for 2021-22. Crucially, the Tenth Report of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology was presented, indicating that Bill S-230, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act, was reported back without amendment. The Senate then proceeded with other business, including motions for adjournment and committee meeting authorizations. The remainder of the sitting involved Question Period and debates on various other bills, including those related to international mother language day, charities, income tax, and criminal code amendments regarding sports betting.
Bill S-230 completed third reading in the Senate on June 21, 2021, and is now awaiting first reading in the House of Commons.
This artifact shows that Bill S-230 completed its third reading in the Senate on June 21, 2021. This means the Senate finished its final consideration of the bill. The bill is now awaiting its first reading in the House of Commons. This record does not contain the full text of the bill or describe its contents, only the procedural steps it has taken in the Senate.
On June 21, 2021, the Senate sat, hearing statements on diverse topics, debating and passing Bill S-230 (Citizenship Act amendment), and completing proceedings on multiple other bills before Royal Assent was granted to several pieces of legislation.
This artifact is a record of a Senate sitting on June 21, 2021. It includes statements on various topics like the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, National Indigenous Peoples Day, tributes to veterans, and the anniversary of the Air India Flight 182 tragedy. It also details routine proceedings, questions raised during Question Period on topics such as mandatory quarantine and suicide prevention, and the orders of the day, which included debates and readings of several bills. Notably, the Senate proceeded to third reading and passed Bill S-230, an act to amend the Citizenship Act concerning the granting of citizenship to certain Canadians. The record also shows debates and votes on other bills, including those related to appropriation, the Criminal Code, and labour codes. The sitting concluded with Royal Assent being given to several bills.
Bill S-230, an Act to amend the Citizenship Act, has not yet undergone its first reading in the House of Commons.
This artifact indicates that Bill S-230 has not yet reached the first reading stage in the House of Commons. The bill originated in the Senate and is currently awaiting its first reading in the House of Commons.
The House of Commons Second Reading stage for Bill S-230 has not yet been reached, with the bill currently awaiting First Reading in the House of Commons.
This artifact describes the House of Commons Second Reading stage for Bill S-230, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act. According to the provided text, this stage has not yet been reached. The artifact lists the dates when the bill had its First Reading, Second Reading, Consideration in Committee, and Third Reading, all of which occurred in the Senate. The bill is currently awaiting its First Reading in the House of Commons.
Bill S-230 has reached the 'Consideration in committee' stage in the House of Commons, but this stage has not yet been reached procedurally.
This record indicates that Bill S-230, an Act to amend the Citizenship Act, has reached the stage of 'Consideration in committee' in the House of Commons. However, the 'Stage state' is listed as 'Not reached', meaning this procedural step has not yet occurred. The bill has progressed through its stages in the Senate, including third reading, and has been presented to the House of Commons for its first reading.
Bill S-230, an Act to amend the Citizenship Act concerning the granting of citizenship to certain Canadians, has not yet reached the Report stage in the House of Commons and is awaiting its first reading there after passing through the Senate.
This artifact describes the status of Bill S-230 in the House of Commons. The bill has not yet reached the Report stage in the House of Commons. It was last read a third time in the Senate on June 21, 2021, and is awaiting its first reading in the House of Commons. The artifact lists the dates of the bill's first reading, second reading, committee consideration, and third reading.
Bill S-230, concerning amendments to the Citizenship Act for granting citizenship, has not yet reached the third reading stage in the House of Commons and is awaiting its first reading there.
This record indicates that the 'House of Commons Third reading' stage for Bill S-230 has not yet been reached. The bill, titled 'An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (granting citizenship to certain Canadians)', is currently a Senate bill awaiting its first reading in the House of Commons. The provided information outlines the historical progression of the bill, including its first and second readings in the Senate, consideration in committees, and its third reading in the Senate on Monday, June 21, 2021.
Debate and sitting links point to official parliamentary sources when LEGISinfo publishes them. Any plain-language discussion summaries should be generated from those official texts and reviewed before public display.
Vote Summary
This bill is still active. We only show vote counts after the legislature publishes a recorded division.
No published representative vote breakdown
This bill is still moving through the process. When a recorded division is published, representative positions can be listed here.
Official sources
Status, sponsor, votes, and timeline on this page are drawn from these official legislative sources and public records. Each summary above is attributed to its own source.
How this data is sourced