C-8

Details

Full Title

An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's call to action number 94)

First Reading

October 22, 2020, Parliament 43, Session 2

Type

House Government Bill

Full Content

https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill/43-2/c-8

Summary

Bill C-8 amends the Citizenship Act to include a specific reference to Aboriginal and treaty rights in the Oath or Affirmation of Citizenship. This change directly addresses call to action number 94 from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. The bill replaces the existing schedule in the Citizenship Act with a new one that includes the revised oath. The revised oath includes a promise to respect the Aboriginal and treaty rights of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. Bill C-8 came into force on the day after it received royal assent.

Issues

Social Justice

• Reconciliation

  Bill C-8 directly responds to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's call to action number 94. It amends the Citizenship Act to include a promise to respect the Aboriginal and treaty rights of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples in the Oath or Affirmation of Citizenship. This change aims to acknowledge and uphold the rights of Indigenous peoples within the context of Canadian citizenship.

• Immigration and Integration

  Bill C-8 amends the oath taken by new citizens to include a reference to Aboriginal and treaty rights. This affects the integration process by ensuring that newcomers are immediately made aware of and commit to respecting these rights as part of their responsibilities as Canadian citizens.