Minister Kenney of Citizenship and Immigration has announced that the new law on citizenship is in action.

"The new Law on Citizenship of Canada comes into effect today", said the Immigration Minister Jason Kenney. The law restores and gives citizenship to those people who have lost or didn't received it because of outdated terms in the past legislation.

"The Canadian citizenship is a serious concern for the Government and CIC", said Minister Kenney. "That is why we took this action to help many 'lost Canadians' who had no citizenship, and that is why we protect its value for the future."

The changes made today, aim to return the lost status for that certain people who have become Canadian citizens after 1 January 1947, when the first citizenship act came into force, and those who then lost citizenship. Some may have lost it when they left the country. Others who were born outside of Canada may have lost citizenship of Canada by not taking steps to retain their citizenship.

Changes grant citizenship to those who had never been a Canadian, but those who are part of the first generation born outside Canada after January 1st , 1947.

The new law will relate to a generation born outside Canada, with some exceptions applied. This means that children born out of Canada, in the first generation and whose Canadian parents will be considered Canadian by birth if:

* One parent was born in Canada, or

* One parent became a Canadian citizen, after immigrating to Canada and later became a citizen.

"This important change will ensure future generations of Canadians to have a real relationship with this country and the remarkable benefits of a Canadian citizenship", said Rudyard Griffiths, co-founder of the Dominion Institute. "The new law reinforces the importance of what it means to be a Canadian in new and positive ways. This increases the importance of citizenship to Canadians and increases its value. "

This restriction will not apply to a child born outside of Canada in the second or subsequent generations, if at the time of birth, the Canadian parent will be working outside of Canada for the Canadian government, a Canadian province or outside of Canada for the Canadian Armed Forces.

No one will lose their citizenship as a result of these amendments, persons who were Canadian citizens before April 16th, will retain their citizenship. The Government will continue to examine exceptional cases, individually and as the case may be.

Please consult the CIC website at www.cic.gc.ca / citizenship, to learn more about the new law on citizenship, including the very instrument of evaluation, which helps people determine whether they would be likely under the new Canadian law, as well as frequently asked issues, and video.