Advantages of Citizenship Changes for Couples Facing Fertility Challenges and Same-Sex Couples
Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
News Release Overview
Canadian families reflect the rich diversity of the nation, where everyone, regardless of whom they love or how they identify, deserves equal rights and opportunities.
July 9, 2020—Ottawa—In an effort to embrace this diversity, the Honourable Marco E. L. Mendicino, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced an important reinterpretation of the term “parent” under the Citizenship Act. This update enables non-biological Canadian parents, who are legally recognized as their child’s parent at birth, to confer Canadian citizenship to children born abroad in the first generation.
This change is particularly significant for Canadian families utilizing assisted human reproduction, including LGBTQ2+ members and those experiencing fertility issues. Previously, children born abroad qualified for citizenship at birth only if they had a genetic link to a Canadian parent or were born to a Canadian parent in the first generation.
Driven by the Caron / van der Ven family’s advocacy, this change was confirmed by the Superior Court of Québec, which recognized both biological and legal parents as equals in citizenship matters. This interpretation aligns with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, ensuring its protection under Canadian law.
Official Statements
“I am thrilled to announce this historic and beneficial ruling by Quebec’s Superior Court. This shift by Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada ensures that non-biological legal parents at birth and biological parents are now equally recognized as a child’s parent for citizenship by descent. Canadian LGBTQ2+ families and parents dealing with fertility challenges have awaited this pivotal day. The Caron / van der Ven family displayed remarkable courage and fortitude in correcting this injustice.”
– The Honourable Marco E. L. Mendicino, P.C., M.P., Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
“Securing citizenship for our son was a lengthy, often painful and frustrating journey. We are overjoyed and relieved that the court rectified this discriminatory policy, not just for us, but for many same-sex and non-traditional families worldwide who were unable to secure Canadian citizenship for their children. We deeply appreciate IRCC’s prompt implementation of these updates, and above all, we are grateful to our lawyers, Olga Redko and Audrey Boctor, whose efforts made this achievement possible.”
– Laurence Caron and Elsje van der Ven
Contact Information
Media Contact Only
Kevin Lemkay
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
613-954-1064
Media Relations
Communications Branch
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
613-952-1650
IRCC.COMMMediaRelations-RelationsmediasCOMM.IRCC@cic.gc.ca
