By Canadian Press

Citizenship oath at the click of a mouse would cheapen tradition: Tory critic

Mar 17, 2023 | 8:55 AM

OTTAWA — The Conservative immigration critic says a proposal to allow people to become a Canadian citizen with the click of a mouse “cheapens” an otherwise special moment for newcomers. 

The federal government is seeking feedback on a plan to let people take the Oath of Citizenship online, rather than attend an officiated ceremony. 

Tom Kmiec says the ceremonies are a big deal for people like him who are not born Canadian, and the tradition shouldn’t be diminished as a way to deal with an administrative backlog. 

Immigration Minister Sean Fraser first floated the idea in January 2022 as a way to speed up processing times, and it was published in the Canada Gazette late last month.

The comment period closes on March 27.

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If approved, the changes to the Citizenship Regulations would come into effect at early as June, at a cost of about $5 million.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 17, 2023.

The Canadian Press