The rules for obtaining the Canadian Citizenship are simple:

1. You must have established and maintained your residence after obtaining permanent residence status for at least 1,095 days (3 years) within the last 4 years in Canada prior to your application for citizenship;
2. You must have a reasonable ability to understand and speak either French or English;
3. You must have some knowledge of Canadian political and economic systems.

Those who have been frequently absent from Canada are referred to as a "Thurlow case", after the name of a Canadian Citizenship judge who stated that long absences could still be counted as presence in Canada, provided it is established that the person in question always considered Canada as his or her principal place of residence.

Such a claim still needs to be supported by justifying absences and demonstrating such material links to Canada as the ownership of a house, a Canadian bank account, Canadian business, the yearly filing of income tax declarations, etc., as well as the production of various identification papers stating that the person in question, or other family members were living in Canada.

Our expertise in the field of citizenship has resulted in the satisfactory outcome of an important number of cases that might otherwise have encountered difficulties. We would be glad to advise you on specific citizenship matters.

A CITIZENSHIP OF CANADA ACT PROPOSED IN PARLIAMENT

OTTAWA -- A Bill to strengthen the value of Canadian citizenship was tabled in the House of Commons on November 25, 1999.

Elinor Caplan, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, proposed the Citizenship of Canada Act to strengthen the value of Canadian citizenship by better defining what it means to be Canadian and by setting clearer criteria for acquiring citizenship.

Similar citizenship legislation was introduced last fall. It reflected the views of Canadians that were gathered over several years. The legislation tabled today reflects what the government heard from Canadians and through the legislative process.

The proposed legislation establishes clear, fair and objective criteria for Canadian citizenship, ensures that future Canadians have a link to Canada, and provides measures to protect the integrity of Canadian citizenship. The proposed legislation:

• Sets more precise terms of residence, requiring that applicants be physically present in Canada for three years of the six years prior to applying. This provides flexibility for people who must be out of the country for extended periods of time, while allowing future Canadians to demonstrate their loyalty and allegiance to Canada -- two pledges they make when they recite the oath of citizenship. A clear definition also ensures consistent and objective decision-making.
• Simplifies the decision-making process and allows for quicker processing of applications. Citizenship applications will be dealt with by people delegated by the Minister. All applications will be decided based on criteria set out in the law.
• Allows for a faster and more effective revision of decisions. Applicants will be able to ask the Minister to review the facts that led to the refusal of their application. The Minister in turn will be able to overturn a refusal. This improves current legislation whereby applications cannot be reviewed by the Minister but must go through the courts. Applicants can also choose judicial review where a federal court judge will hear the case. If the refusal is found to be inappropriate, the judge will request a new decision from the Minister.

If passed, the Citizenship of Canada Act would represent the first major reform of citizenship legislation in more than twenty years.