One of the frustrations during C-3 hearings on the removal of the first-generation citizenship transmission restriction was the weak data presented by the government and the overly general but nevertheless useful PBO analysis.
IRCC did, however, indicate some 4,000 interim applications had been received and shared the data regarding these applications: gender, age, country of residence.
This working paper presents the analysis for citizenship data nerds.
Appears from today’s hearings that SCOTUS is inclined to agree with Bouie’s assessment:
…It is not so much that revisionism is on its face outrageous, but that any alternative reading of the citizenship clause must strike at the heart of the rejection of Dred Scott. On this count, Trump and his defenders fail. Their vision of citizenship — which would plunge countless children into statelessness as a permanently subordinate class — would bring Dred Scott back from the dead. And it would do this in support of a political agenda that seeks nothing less than the reconstruction of race hierarchy and the rank domination of despised minorities.
The evidence in favor of the traditional view of the citizenship clause is overwhelming. To rule otherwise is to say, in essence, that two plus two equals five. Which is to say that if the Supreme Court decides in favor of Trump, it will have less to do with law or history than the political power of the president and his movement.
Trump v. Barbara, then, is a stark reminder that the struggle over constitutional meaning involves the entire nation. The revisionist case rests less on new evidence than it does on Trump’s claim to embody the nation and its desires. If he is ascendant, then the people must want a closed, cloistered society.
Articles and opinions related to citizenship that I found of interest in March:
Idées | Après la loi C-3, un réveil franco-américain
This is the second article that has focussed on potential applicants from early waves of Canadian francophone emigrants to the USA. This possibility was never raised I believe in either House or Senate hearings on C-3 and its predecessors, and the focus and discussion was on second generation, not earlier generations (Indian media did flag possibility). I will be making a data request in 2027 and have asked IRCC whether their data collection will distinguish between second and earlier generations:
…“Pour comprendre l’onde de choc, il faut revenir au fameux « plafond » : la limite de première génération. En clair, les enfants nés à l’étranger de parents canadiens pouvaient être citoyens canadiens, mais ne pouvaient pas transmettre automatiquement leur citoyenneté à leurs propres enfants si eux aussi naissaient à l’étranger. La chaîne s’arrêtait après une génération née hors du pays.
Une décision rendue en Ontario en décembre 2023 a jugé ce régime inconstitutionnel dans certains cas, ce qui a forcé Ottawa à corriger le tir. C-3 permet donc la citoyenneté au-delà de la première génération née à l’étranger, mais en posant une condition de « lien substantiel » : la citoyenneté peut circuler plus loin dans la chaîne familiale à condition qu’il y ait une ancre réelle au pays, démontrée par 1095 jours — trois ans — de présence physique cumulative au Canada.
Et voilà ce qui change tout : pour beaucoup, il ne s’agit pas de « demander » la citoyenneté comme un privilège, mais de faire reconnaître un statut qui s’appuie maintenant sur des règles précises afin d’obtenir une preuve de citoyenneté. Psychologiquement, ce n’est pas la même posture.”
Pourquoi la Nouvelle-Angleterre s’enflamme
Si cette loi fait battre le cœur de la Nouvelle-Angleterre, ce n’est pas un hasard. Entre 1830 et 1970, près d’un million de Québécois ont traversé la frontière — surtout vers les villes industrielles — pour travailler dans les filatures et les manufactures. Le résultat démographique est immense : leurs descendants représentent aujourd’hui près de dix millions d’Américains.
Cette diaspora a longtemps été racontée comme une épopée ouvrière : un peuple qui quitte la terre, cherche du travail, construit des quartiers, des paroisses, des clubs, fondent des journaux. Mais c’est aussi une histoire de hiérarchie sociale : des Canadiens français devenus main-d’œuvre bon marché, comme tant d’autres groupes dans l’Amérique industrielle. Ce double héritage explique la charge émotionnelle du moment : la loi C-3 ne touche pas seulement un cas juridique ; elle réveille une mémoire.
Surtout, elle arrive des années après qu’une fierté franco-américaine s’est reconstruite « par en bas » : balados, blogues, festivals, initiatives locales. Parmi ceux qui s’activent aujourd’hui, il y a des amis à moi qui animent un balado franco-américain très écouté, d’autres qui ont fondé le PoutineFest du New Hampshire — devenu assez solide pour essaimer, avec des éditions à Burlington, au Vermont, et dans “le Maine — et d’autres encore qui tiennent depuis longtemps des blogues franco-américains. La fierté n’a pas attendu Ottawa. Mais l’accès, lui, oui.
L’Amérique pousse, le Québec attire
Pourquoi maintenant ? Parce que l’Amérique inquiète. Dans mes échanges, je sens moins une mode qu’une fatigue : fatigue politique, fatigue institutionnelle, fatigue culturelle. La citoyenneté canadienne devient un filet de sécurité pour certains : un passeport, oui, mais surtout une option familiale.
Mais réduire ce mouvement à une fuite serait une erreur. Beaucoup ne parlent pas d’abord de soins de santé ou d’élections. Ils parlent de langue. Ils parlent d’immersion. Ils parlent d’un désir de vivre — enfin — dans un endroit où le français n’est pas un folklore, mais un espace public.
Plusieurs se disent fièrement Franco-Américains. D’autres se décrivent carrément comme « Québécois », avec ce mélange de fierté et d’envie : envie d’une société qu’ils perçoivent comme plus cohérente, plus collective, moins brutale. Et ils sont lucides : tous ne pourront pas transférer leur carrière ici. Les avocats, les fiscalistes, ceux qui ont des professions encadrées le savent. Pourtant, ils avancent, parce que ce n’est pas seulement une équation économique : c’est une trajectoire.
Bienvenue chez vous »… mais préparons-nous
Soyons francs : cette loi a un impact particulier — et probablement disproportionné — sur les descendants de Québécois aux États-Unis. Elle ne déclenchera pas automatiquement une migration de masse. Les démarches restent exigeantes : prouver la filiation, retrouver les bons documents, faire valider les chaînes.
Mais la direction du courant est claire. Et le Québec doit regarder cette réalité en face : une partie de cette diaspora va frapper à sa porte, non pas comme des étrangers, mais comme des « revenants » — avec une attache réelle, un imaginaire familial, parfois un français brisé, parfois un français intact.
La question n’est donc pas seulement de savoir combien viendront, mais comment on les accueillera. Oui, la citoyenneté donne des droits. Mais l’installation au Québec implique aussi des devoirs, des choix, un ancrage. Et si une partie de cette vague devient une immigration durable, elle peut aussi être un gain : démographique, économique, culturel — et, franchement, linguistique, si ces nouveaux arrivants viennent précisément chercher le français.
Alors, oui : Québécois et Canadiens français, préparez-vous à dire « bienvenue chez vous ». Mais disons-le intelligemment : avec des parcours d’accueil réalistes, des ponts de francisation adaptés et un discours public qui évite de transformer des cousins en boucs émissaires.
Parce qu’au fond, C-3 ne fait pas que corriger une incohérence juridique. Elle réactive une vieille histoire : celle d’un peuple parti travailler ailleurs… et dont les descendants, un siècle plus tard, demandent non pas la permission, mais la reconnaissance de revenir toucher le fil.”
Rémi Francœur Franco-Américain, l’auteur est analyste politique et ancien directeur de campagnes politiques au New Hampshire. Il est installé à Montréal depuis 2015.
…”To understand the shock wave, we must return to the famous “ceiling”: the first generation limit. Clearly, children born abroad to Canadian parents could be Canadian citizens, but could not automatically transmit their citizenship to their own children if they were also born abroad. The channel stopped after a generation born outside the country.
A decision rendered in Ontario in December 2023 ruled this regime unconstitutional in some cases, forcing Ottawa to correct the situation. C-3 therefore allows citizenship beyond the first generation born abroad, but by placing a condition of “substantial link”: citizenship can circulate further in the family chain provided that there is a real anchor in the country, demonstrated by 1095 days – three years – of cumulative physical presence in Canada.
And this is what changes everything: for many, it is not a question of “asking” citizenship as a privilege, but of having a status recognized that is now based on precise rules in order to obtain proof of citizenship. Psychologically, it’s not the same posture.”
Why New England is on fire
If this law makes the heart of New England beat, it is no coincidence. Between 1830 and 1970, nearly a million Quebecers crossed the border — mainly to industrial cities — to work in spinning mills and factories. The demographic result is immense: their descendants now represent nearly ten million Americans.
This diaspora has long been told as a workers’ epic: a people who leave the earth, look for work, build neighborhoods, parishes, clubs, found newspapers. But it is also a story of social hierarchy: French Canadians who have become cheap labor, like so many other groups in industrial America. This double legacy explains the emotional charge of the moment: Law C-3 does not only affect a legal case; it awakens a memory.
Above all, it comes years after a Franco-American pride has rebuilt itself “from the bottom”: podcasts, blogs, festivals, local initiatives. Among those who are active today, there are friends of mine who host a much listened to Franco-American podcast, others who founded the PutinFest of New Hampshire – which has become solid enough to swarm, with editions in Burlington, Vermont, and in “Maine – and others who have long held Franco-American blogs. Pride did not wait for Ottawa. But access, yes.
America is pushing, Quebec attracts
Why now? Because America is worried. In my exchanges, I feel less a fashion than a fatigue: political fatigue, institutional fatigue, cultural fatigue. Canadian citizenship becomes a safety net for some: a passport, yes, but above all a family option.
But reducing this movement to a leak would be a mistake. Many do not first talk about health care or elections. They speak language. They talk about immersion. They speak of a desire to live – finally – in a place where French is not a folklore, but a public space.
Many proudly call themselves Franco-Americans. Others describe themselves flatly as “Quebecers”, with this mixture of pride and envy: desire for a society that they perceive as more coherent, more collective, less brutal. And they are lucid: not all will be able to transfer their career here. Lawyers, tax specialists, those who have supervised professions know it. However, they move forward, because it is not just an economic equation: it is a trajectory.
Welcome home”… but let’s get ready
Let’s be frank: this law has a particular — and probably disproportionate — impact on the descendants of Quebecers in the United States. It will not automatically trigger a mass migration. The steps remain demanding: prove filiation, find the right documents, have the channels validated.
But the direction of the current is clear. And Quebec must face this reality: part of this diaspora will knock on its door, not as foreigners, but as “revenants” – with a real attachment, a family imagination, sometimes a broken Frenchman, sometimes an intact Frenchman.
The question is therefore not only how many will come, but how they will be welcomed. Yes, citizenship gives rights. But settling in Quebec also implies duties, choices, an anchorage. And if part of this wave becomes sustainable immigration, it can also be a gain: demographic, economic, cultural – and, frankly, linguistic, if these newcomers come precisely for French.
So, yes: Quebecers and French Canadians, get ready to say “welcome home”. But let’s say it intelligently: with realistic welcome paths, adapted francization bridges and a public discourse that avoids turning cousins into scapegoats.
Because basically, C-3 does not only correct a legal inconsistency. It reactivates an old story: that of a people who have gone to work elsewhere… and whose descendants, a century later, ask not for permission, but the recognition of returning to touch the thread.”
Rémi Francœur Franco-American, the author is a political analyst and former director of political campaigns in New Hampshire. It has been based in Montreal since 2015.
Canadians living abroad are calling for increased turnout among overseas voters and arguing that barriers to casting a ballot could be affecting election results.
Looking forward the PROC report and recommendations. In contrast to the USA with relatively strong Republicans and Democrats Abroad, Canadian political parties do not appear to have the same interest although the Liberals seem to have a greater focus that the Conservatives (https://www.conservativesabroad.ca). The Liberals have the expansive multi-generational interpretation of C-3. As in the case of “Lost Canadians” and previous elections, the number who may be interested and vote is likely smaller than advocates believer.
Upcoming analysis on the provincial and country breakdowns for the 2025 election, sample below, Ontario and British Columbia have higher proportions than other provinces:
Timothy Veale, the director of Grits Abroad — an organization aimed at connecting Canadian Liberal voters living worldwide — said nearly five million Canadians live outside the country and roughly 3.5 million of them are eligible to vote.
Veale said the share of non-resident Canadians voting in federal elections is mired in the low single digits. He said the causes include mail-only voting, compressed timelines, uncertainty about ballot arrival and delivery and a lack of outreach from party campaigns.
Daniel Scuka, a member of Grits Abroad living in Germany, said parties need to “wake up” and encourage Canadians overseas to vote. He said Elections Canada could also be directed to do more to support overseas voting.
Veale said federal parties should see overseas voters as an opportunity.
“I’d like to see a politician ask us for their vote,” he said. “In the last election … I don’t think anybody courted any of the five million people living overseas.”
Veale said the system “needs modernization” and Canadians should be able to vote in person at an embassy, consulate or high commission. He also pointed out that several countries allow online voting.
“We have the right to vote and a 37-day election was not designed for people abroad to apply to vote,” he said. “If you get approval, then you have to wait for the ballot to be sent to you, then you have to send it back. And imagine having to navigate over 200 different national postal systems around the world.
“We’ve seen how other countries operate and we can do way better than this. It’s just a matter of will, as I see it.”
Elections Canada said in an email that 101,690 voting kits were issued to electors living outside of Canada in the last general election. Of those, 57,440 were returned on time and tallied….
As Americans in Canada prepare U.S. tax filings, lower citizenship renunciation fee offers a way out
Not to be cynical but given that Democrats abroad tend to be larger than Republicans….
The U.S. government’s decision to decrease its citizenship renunciation fee by more than 80 per cent may result in more Americans in Canada giving up their U.S. citizenship, cross-border tax experts say, as the deadline for Americans abroad to file their taxes approaches.
Earlier this month, the U.S. State Department announced that the consular services fee charged to Americans giving up their citizenship will drop to US$450, down from US$2,350, effective April 13.
Unlike Canada and most other countries, the U.S. bases its tax system on citizenship rather than residency. That means a U.S. citizen must file a U.S. tax return every year regardless of where they live. In addition, the U.S. requires Americans to report on their foreign financial accounts annually.
The deadline for filing a U.S. tax return is April 15, but Americans living abroad receive an automatic filing and payment extension until June 15, and a possible further extension to Oct. 15, if they request it. To avoid interest charges, any taxes are still due by April 15….
Juno News caught this change. Deserves wider reading and concern given “take home test” is a further diminishment and integrity reduction of Canadian citizenship:
The majority of immigrants seeking Canadian citizenship will apply completely through a self-administered online citizenship test, which they will be permitted up to three attempts to pass.
The virtual format for the Canadian citizenship test, popularized throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, is now the default, according to new instructions from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Before 2020, citizenship tests were written in person by default. Applicants were generally given 30 minutes to complete the test. If they failed, they had one opportunity to rewrite it before being referred to a knowledge or language hearing.
The IRCC released updated information on Monday, formalizing a 45-minute time allotment for the online, self-administered test. Applicants must answer 15 of the 20 questions correctly.
Meanwhile, most citizenship ceremonies have also gone virtual, with the Conservatives pushing Ottawa to reinstate in-person ceremonies.
In December, Conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel Garner calledon the Liberals to return to in-person ceremonies, which she called a “sacred event” where new Canadians “swear an out to the country and take on the responsibilities and obligations that come with citizenship.”
During a press conference in Ottawa, Rempel Garner said it was time for the Carney government to “restore the value of Canadian citizenship.”
“Last year, over half of the people who became Canadian citizens did so by clicking a box online. That’s crazy. There is no way to justify this practice, and with support for immigration at an all-time low, returning to inclusive nation-building ceremonies is a no-brainer,” she said at the time. “In person, citizenship ceremonies are the essential unifying bedrock of Canada’s civic life.”
She called for an immediate end to “one-click citizenship” and to “restore the full dignity and communal significance” of the in-person ceremonies for new Canadians.
“Just as with marriage, these are sacred events, and the responsibilities and obligations taken on swearing the Oath of Citizenship in front of an official should be upheld as an integral part of committing to those responsibilities that come along with being Canadian,” Rempel-Garner said. “The Liberals rejected every opportunity to restore in-person ceremonies. Justice Minister Sean Fraser even defended virtual ceremonies, saying the practice could be easier for bureaucrats to manage.”
This comes after the president of the Customs and Immigration Union, which represents the Canada Border Services Agency, revealed to an immigration committee that the majority of asylum claims are being done through an app. He warned Canadians that removing person-to-person interviews could compromise Canada’s security.
Follow the money applies even more strongly to Trump, his family and his enablers:
…And while banks are required to adhere to anti-money-laundering and KYC rules and list where a customer lives, they are not currently required to collect and verify citizenship information.
If Mr. Trump signed such an executive order, it could require banks to retroactively get citizenship information from existing customers and collect it from new customers.
Politics and privacy aside, that task would be Herculean – and expensive. The costs would likely be passed on to customers.
Opponents of such a measure would say that once again, Mr. Trump is overreaching his authority. This has nothing to do with the integrity of the banking system and everything to do with his agenda.
Supporters would be quick to remind detractors that one of Mr. Trump’s top campaign promises was to crack down on illegal immigration. And while not everyone agrees with his tactics, don’t be so naive to think you can do the job by being soft, and this is what the majority of American voters said they wanted.
At the end of the day, it really comes down to the now infamous line from All the President’s Men, the 1976 film about the Watergate scandal.
If you want to shine a light on corruption, “follow the money.” And that, presumably, is what such a measure would be meant to do.
Regular detailed tracking of Canadian immigration including permanent residents, temporary workers, asylum claimants, and study permits from 2018 to 2025 with regional and program-specific insights.
Quarterly and annual comparisons. While Permanent Residents 2025 target met, temporary workers, IMP and TFWP, significantly exceed planned levels, with students also exceeding.
While all programs showed significant increase since 2018 baseline, 2025 also showed a decline compared to 2024. Slides 3 and 4 provide the highlights.
When Lena Diab was appointed head of Canada’s Immigration Department, community expectations were high.
The new minister is the daughter of immigrants, is trilingual and spent part of her childhood in Lebanon. Diab had also previously served in cabinet in her home province of Nova Scotia.
“It seemed like the perfect plan,” said Stephan Reichhold, executive director of the Quebec-based Table de concertation des organismes au service des personnes réfugiées et immigrantes.
But Reichhold quickly became disillusioned with a minister who, in his opinion, was conspicuous in her absence.
Members of Parliament are also expressing disappointment in Diab’s performance — including some of her fellow Liberal caucus members.
‘She is completely absent’
Reichhold said he has never managed to speak directly with Diab, despite repeatedly asking to meet following her swearing-in last May.
“I have seen 14 immigration ministers come and go, and it is truly surprising. We are really astonished that she is completely absent,” Reichhold said.
That’s in contrast with her predecessor Marc Miller, who Reichhold said had frequent contact with stakeholders in the field even when his government lowered its immigration targets.
Radio-Canada spoke with five other organizations that criticized Diab’s availability. Among them is the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, which spoke with the minister only once, via videoconference, last spring.
The organization is seeking to open a path to permanent residency for Ukrainians who have fled the war, but has still not managed to secure an in-person meeting with Diab. Her predecessors were more readily available, said the CEO of the congress, Ihor Michalchyshyn.
“It’s frustrating,” he said. “We haven’t been able to schedule a meeting despite several attempts.”
Organizations also note that the minister is not very visible in the media, even as the immigration issue was widely covered in Quebec.
When asked to comment, Diab declined Radio-Canada’s request for an interview and did not provide a written response.
In a statement, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Mark Carney said that “as minister of immigration, [Diab] plays a key role in the government’s mandate to bring immigration back to sustainable levels, while attracting the best talent in the world to help build our economy.”
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) did not comment on the criticism from community groups.
Committee presence criticized
On the few occasions when Diab has been visible — in parliamentary committee, for example — her performance has raised eyebrows.
At the end of October, the minister had difficulty answering a question from the Bloc Québécois about processing times for refugee status applications and sought information from the civil servants sitting next to her.
Exasperated, MP Claude DeBellefeuille snapped, “Madam minister, why won’t you answer me? It’s your power. Why are you delegating it to your civil servant?”
“There are many laws governing these issues,” Diab replied, adding that “it depends on the circumstances.”
A few weeks later, Conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel Garner, known for her sharp tongue in committee, questioned Diab about the possibility of extending the visas of millions of temporary residents and called her a “very bad minister.” The exchange was widely shared on social media.
“I understand as a woman in politics, sometimes you can get framed unfairly,” said Rempel Garner in an interview with Radio-Canada. “But she is the minister of immigration. She has to step it up, right? And I just, I haven’t seen that.… I feel like I know the file far better than she does.”
The minister testified this month before two Senate committees studying the border security legislation Bill C-12. On several occasions, Diab had to give the floor to the officials accompanying her, visibly unable to answer the questions.
“She doesn’t have a strong command of her file,” said Bloc Québécois MP Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, who was present during some of these committee exchanges and who, until recently, was the Bloc’s immigration critic.
Discouraged Liberals
Criticism is coming not only from opposition parties, but also from Diab’s own Liberal colleagues.
Away from the cameras, 10 Liberal MPs spoke to Radio-Canada about her performance. They were granted confidentiality in order to express themselves freely.
Of those, only one defended Diab’s job performance. Although several of them emphasized that she is a “good person” in charge of a “difficult” portfolio, nine MPs said they believe that the minister is overwhelmed and are openly questioning her place at the cabinet table.
“It doesn’t make sense. In the House of Commons, many MPs hold their breath when she answers questions from the opposition,” said one Liberal elected official.
Definitely a theoretical possibility but in practice, given that most parents will not have met the residency requirement needed for the second and third generation to claim citizenship will likely be a small percentage. But proof data will show the extent of any increase but only broken down by country:
…Bill C-3 allows citizenship to flow beyond the first generation born or adopted abroad, ultimately recognizing an entire chain of descendants, as long as there is a Canadian citizen who anchors the chain with at least 1,095 days (three years) of cumulative physical presence in Canada. The descendants will automatically be new citizens, able to obtain proof of Canadian citizenship, rather than having to apply for citizenship.
Patrick White, a journalism professor at the Université du Québec à Montréal, points to significant interest in obtaining Canadian citizenship by the descendants of French Canadians who migrated from Quebec to New England.
“I see a genuine interest in Facebook groups associated to Franco Americans,” White said in an email to National Post. One group, based in Maine, posted news about the new legislation in early February.
“Close to one million French Canadians left Québec between 1840 and 1930,” says White, citing Franco-American historian, David Vermette, who described the migration in his book, Distinct Alien Race: The Untold Story of Franco-Americans.
Their descendants “now represent almost 10 million Americans,” says White. “The current climate in the U.S. is leading many of them to inquire about the possible acquisition of Canadian citizenship because of the changes made here in December. This is a ‘Plan B’ for them.”
Though, “it’s too early to say” if there how many will be applying, he adds.”
…But in a Federal Court decision dated Feb. 12, Bapari successfully challenged the decision by a delegate of the immigration minister that refused him relief based on his personal circumstances.
“Mr. Bapari recognized that he had misled the authorities by relying on false identity when he first came to Canada, and then by not disclosing the misdeed when he claimed permanent residence and citizenship,” Roy said. “But he raised a number of issues that qualify as personal circumstances. The MD (ministerial delegate) had to address these in the reasons in writing he had to give.”
The MD found that Bapari “has obtained his Canadian citizenship by fraud or false representation or by knowingly concealing material circumstances,” said the Federal Court decision.
“The failure to disclose the alternate identity and removal order prevented an accurate eligibility and admissibility assessment, thus allowing (Bapari’s) return to Canada without the required written authorization. The application for Canadian citizenship suffered from the same defect. That application was not true, correct and complete in spite of the attestation to that effect given by” Bapari.
“The MD found that Bapari “has obtained his Canadian citizenship by fraud or false representation or by knowingly concealing material circumstances,” said the Federal Court decision.
“The failure to disclose the alternate identity and removal order prevented an accurate eligibility and admissibility assessment, thus allowing (Bapari’s) return to Canada without the required written authorization. The application for Canadian citizenship suffered from the same defect. That application was not true, correct and complete in spite of the attestation to that effect given by” Bapari.
The MD didn’t see the “circumstances surrounding the misrepresentations” as extenuating, or serving to lessen the seriousness of his actions, because Bapari didn’t have to use a false identity, said the decision. “Wanting a better life in Canada cannot be an excuse to undermine the integrity and fairness of Canada’s immigration system,” it said. “The misrepresentations constitute a very serious and intentional deception.”
“The MD emphasized that, as a previously deported person, Bapari “was banned from returning to Canada: a written authorization was required. Hence, the misrepresentations had the effect of circumventing the process. The admission of guilt and the remorse expressed by (Bapari) do not overcome the actions taken to circumvent immigration and citizenship laws.”
The MD examined Bapari’s social ties in Canada. “The decision maker notes in passing that (Bapari) has been living with his wife for 23 years without any trouble with the law. Good ties and roots have been established, including participating in community and religious activities. Stable employment is acknowledged; the loss of citizenship would result in an inability to work, which would put the couple in financial distress. The MD reckons that the revocation of citizenship could cause great emotional, psychological distress to (Bapari’s) wife, together with the financial stress resulting from his inability to work.”
Bapari also “now suffers from chronic diseases, which require medical treatment,” said the decision, which does not elaborate on his health condition.
“The MD considered Bapari’s “misrepresentations in and of themselves as being so grave that no personal circumstances appear to warrant special relief,” said the judge. “The integrity and fairness of the immigration system are put on a pedestal without engaging with the actual personal circumstances.”
Furthermore, the MD “puts the bar very high in requiring that (Bapari) demonstrate ‘extenuating circumstances that necessitated (his) misrepresentation to Canadian authorities.’ Without any explanation, the MD turns ‘special relief’ into a requirement that the misrepresentations be a necessity, perhaps even duress has become a must.”
No explanation was offered to Bapari “for such a restrictive view of what warrants ‘special relief,’” said the judge. “An explanation is needed for the reviewing court to assess its reasonableness.”
Roy concluded “that more and better is expected of a decision maker,” according to his decision. “The power over vulnerable persons brings with it the high responsibility to ensure that the reasons have duly considered the consequences of the decision when Parliament has instructed that personal circumstances be considered with a view to warrant special relief.”
“The MD’s reasons provided in this case “are not adequate to the task,” said the judge. “Whether or not the outcome might be reasonable is not relevant. It is the process leading to the outcome which is deficient, making the decision under review not reasonable.”
They’re “inadequate in view of the stakes,” Roy said. “As a result, the matter must be sent back to a different decision maker for redetermination.””
…Comment les athlètes se magasinent-ils des nationalités ?
Sauf approbation exceptionnelle du CIO, un athlète ne peut concourir sous la bannière d’un pays s’il en a représenté un autre dans les trois années précédentes. Il doit aussi être « libéré » par sa fédération d’origine, sans quoi un recours aux instances d’arbitrage est nécessaire.
Le cas du patinage artistique en duo est particulier, explique Me Patrice Brunet, spécialiste en droit de l’immigration et en droit du sport, et avocat de Stellato-Dudek.
Il est très difficile de trouver un partenaire avec qui travailler, et très souvent, ce sont des partenaires de deux pays.
Me Patrice Brunet, spécialiste en droit de l’immigration et en droit du sport
Stellato-Dudek a contacté Me Brunet en 2021. Elle venait de se séparer de son ancien partenaire américain. Or, des patineurs artistiques de haut niveau, il n’en traîne pas beaucoup dans les arénas. Elle a entendu parler de Maxime Deschamps, qui venait lui aussi de mettre fin à son association. Ça a cliqué.
Les deux se sont demandé s’ils devraient être américains ou canadiens. Le chemin vers la nationalité canadienne était un peu plus simple… Ils ont choisi le Canada.
« Je lui ai dit : “Je veux gérer tes attentes. Pour les Jeux de 2022 [Pékin], ce n’est pas jouable” », dit l’avocat, qui est à Milan pour voir performer sa cliente.
Il faut d’abord un certificat de sélection du Québec. Pour ça, il faut démontrer qu’on peut occuper un emploi recherché par les employeurs québécois.
Or, le patinage artistique, c’est beaucoup d’ouvrage, mais ce n’est pas un travail. Impossible de passer par le chemin habituel. Il fallait passer par la discrétion ministérielle.
« Elle avait l’appui des fédérations sportives. On a demandé un traitement accéléré au bureau de Christine Fréchette. On l’a obtenu en six mois. »
Le plus compliqué était à venir : pour devenir citoyen canadien, il faut avoir été présent au moins trois années dans les cinq dernières.
« Ça nous mettait hors délai pour les Jeux de Milan-Cortina. Mais encore là, la discrétion ministérielle permet des exceptions. »
Le ministre était Marc Miller. Le dossier était en attente… puis en janvier, ils sont devenus champions du monde pour le Canada. Justin Trudeau les a félicités sur les réseaux sociaux.
Comment peut-on concourir pour le Canada sans être citoyen ? C’est permis par la fédération internationale, vu les nombreux couples binationaux. Mais pas aux Jeux olympiques.
L’avocat a donc fait une capture d’écran du tweet du premier ministre.
« Disons que ça bonifiait le dossier… Ma peur, c’était qu’ils l’accordent juste avant les Jeux. Il y a tout le volet psychologique à gérer. On a même envoyé une lettre de psychologue au ministre. »
La citoyenneté a été accordée en novembre 2024. Le couple a continué de s’entraîner à Boucherville. Et elle a appris le français depuis.
Les cas de figure de changement de drapeau sont innombrables. C’est souvent parce qu’un athlète n’a pas pu se qualifier dans son pays qu’il se tourne vers une autre fédération nationale. C’est le cas du patineur courte piste Félix Pigeon, devenu polonais avec l’accord de la fédération canadienne.
En entrevue au Journal de Québec, il disait n’avoir rien compris quand le président Karol Nawrocki est venu souhaiter bonne chance aux athlètes avant les Jeux.
Pour la même raison, de nombreux athlètes africains ont intégré les fédérations sportives de Bahreïn et du Qatar. Vu la profondeur de talent en athlétisme au Kenya et en Éthiopie, le 6e, voire le 12e au pays dans une discipline donnée fait néanmoins partie de l’élite mondiale et peut gagner une médaille.
Ajoutons à cela que ces riches pays du Golfe allongent un financement conséquent pour attirer ces athlètes.
À Paris, 11 des 14 athlètes de Bahreïn venaient de l’Éthiopie, du Kenya et du Nigeria. Au 3000 m steeple, Winfred Yavi, née au Kenya, a remporté l’or pour Bahreïn. Elle avait terminé 10e à Tokyo. Autrement dit, quand elle a changé de pays, c’était une athlète de haut niveau, prometteuse, mais pas une championne.
L’autre catégorie, plus controversée, est justement celle de l’importation de champions existants.
Le cas le plus spectaculaire est celui du patineur de vitesse Ahn Hyun-soo, immense vedette en Corée du Sud, qui avait remporté quatre médailles, dont trois d’or, aux Jeux de Turin. Blessé avant les qualifications de son pays pour les Jeux de Vancouver, on ne l’a pas laissé y participer. Il est devenu russe juste avant Sotchi et se fait appeler maintenant Viktor Ahn. Il a remporté trois médailles d’or pour la Russie. De retour en Corée du Sud, les choses apparemment ne se passent pas à merveille, d’autant qu’il a été entraîneur d’un grand rival, la Chine…
Le planchiste américain Vic Wild, lui, est tombé amoureux d’une Russe et a adopté la nationalité en 2011, à temps pour les Jeux de Sotchi. On lui avait trouvé un emploi bien rémunéré pour faciliter son intégration. L’investissement a payé : il a remporté deux médailles d’or et reçu l’accolade de son nouveau président, Vladimir Poutine.
À l’inverse, depuis l’invasion russe de l’Ukraine et la poursuite du bannissement du pays, on estime que 350 athlètes russes ont quitté le pays. Aux Jeux de Paris, 77 d’entre eux ont participé en tant qu’athlètes d’autres pays. Ils sont une trentaine à Milan-Cortina.
On peut ajouter à cela ceux qui n’ont aucun drapeau. Ils font partie de l’équipe des réfugiés. Elle n’est pas représentée à Milan-Cortina, mais ils étaient 36 à Paris, dont deux ont remporté une médaille de bronze.
Parfois, c’est aussi parce qu’un athlète n’a pas le choix qu’il change de drapeau.
Unless exceptionally approved by the IOC, an athlete cannot compete under the banner of one country if he has represented another in the previous three years. He must also be “released” by his federation of origin, otherwise recourse to arbitration bodies is necessary.
The case of duo figure skating is special, explains Patrice Brunet, a specialist in immigration law and sports law, and lawyer for Stellato-Dudek.
It is very difficult to find a partner to work with, and very often, they are partners from two countries.
Me Patrice Brunet, specialist in immigration law and sports law
Stellato-Dudek contacted Me Brunet in 2021. She had just separated from her former American partner. However, high-level figure skaters, he doesn’t drag many in the arenas. She heard about Maxime Deschamps, who had also just ended his association. It clicked.
Both wondered if they should be American or Canadian. The path to Canadian citizenship was a little easier… They chose Canada.
“I told him, “I want to manage your expectations. For the 2022 Games [Beijing], it is not playable,” says the lawyer, who is in Milan to see his client perform.
You first need a Quebec selection certificate. For this, it is necessary to demonstrate that we can occupy a job sought after by Quebec employers.
However, figure skating is a lot of work, but it is not a job. Impossible to go through the usual path. It was necessary to go through ministerial discretion.
“She had the support of sports federations. An expedited treatment was requested at Christine Fréchette’s office. We got it in six months. ”
The most complicated thing was to come: to become a Canadian citizen, you must have been present for at least three years in the last five.
“It put us out of time for the Milan-Cortina Games. But again, ministerial discretion allows exceptions. ”
The minister was Marc Miller. The file was pending… then in January, they became world champions for Canada. Justin Trudeau congratulated them on social media.
How can you compete for Canada without being a citizen? This is allowed by the international federation, given the many binational couples. But not at the Olympic Games.
The lawyer therefore took a screenshot of the Prime Minister’s tweet.
“Let’s say it made the file a better… My fear was that they would grant it just before the Games. There is the whole psychological component to manage. We even sent a letter from a psychologist to the minister. ”
Citizenship was granted in November 2024. The couple continued to train in Boucherville. And she has learned French since then.
The scenarios of changing the flag are countless. It is often because an athlete has not been able to qualify in his country that he turns to another national federation. This is the case of short-track skater Félix Pigeon, who became Polish with the agreement of the Canadian federation.
In an interview with the Journal de Québec, he said he didn’t understand anything when President Karol Nawrocki came to wish the athletes good luck before the Games.
For the same reason, many African athletes have joined the sports federations of Bahrain and Qatar. Given the depth of athletics talent in Kenya and Ethiopia, the 6th or even the 12th in the country in a given discipline is nevertheless part of the world elite and can win a medal.
Let’s add to this that these rich Gulf countries are extending substantial funding to attract these athletes.
In Paris, 11 of Bahrain’s 14 athletes came from Ethiopia, Kenya and Nigeria. In the 3000 m steeple, Winfred Yavi, born in Kenya, won gold for Bahrain. She finished 10th in Tokyo. In other words, when she changed country, she was a high-level athlete, promising, but not a champion.
The other, more controversial category is precisely that of the import of existing champions.
The most spectacular case is that of speed skater Ahn Hyun-soo, a huge star in South Korea, who had won four medals, including three gold, at the Turin Games. Injured before his country’s qualifying for the Vancouver Games, he was not allowed to participate. He became Russian just before Sochi and is now called Viktor Ahn. He won three gold medals for Russia. Back in South Korea, things are apparently not going wonderfully, especially since he was the coach of a great rival, China…
American planker Vic Wild fell in love with a Russian and adopted the nationality in 2011, in time for the Sochi Games. He had been found a well-paid job to facilitate his integration. The investment paid off: he won two gold medals and received the hug of his new president, Vladimir Putin.
Conversely, since the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the continuation of the banishment from the country, it is estimated that 350 Russian athletes have left the country. At the Paris Games, 77 of them participated as athletes from other countries. There are about thirty of them in Milan-Cortina.
We can add to this those who have no flags. They are part of the refugee team. She is not represented in Milan-Cortina, but there were 36 in Paris, two of whom won a bronze medal.
Sometimes, it is also because an athlete has no choice that he changes his flag.
Multicultural Meanderings 