Ottawa to consult with provinces on dealing with “birth tourism” | Toronto Star

No surprise that not included in the changes to the Citizenship Act given the implications for the provinces (and the government may have learned something from the Jobs Grant experience). Hopefully, the consultations with the provinces will ask for hard data on the number of births that were to mothers who were not covered by medicare (i.e., birth tourism and immigrants within the three-month waiting period) to give more than anecdotal information on the extent of the issue.

“We want to address the issue of people who have absolutely no strong connection to Canada and have no desire to live here, coming solely for the purpose of giving birth and then leaving,” Alexander told a news conference in Toronto after Bill C-24, Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act, was tabled.

“It will be addressed down the road in an appropriate way. It does involve consultation and co-ordination with the provinces and territories who deliver health care obviously.

“We have to make sure we get it right in a way that doesn’t disrupt the vast majority of Canadians who are having their legitimate births in hospitals, but does detect and deter those cases where our generosity is being abused.”

Ottawa to consult with provinces on dealing with “birth tourism” | Toronto Star.