Legislative Summary of Federal Bill on Citizenship Act Amendment

 The Library of Parliament has published a Legislative Summary of Bill C-8: An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's call to action number 94):

"Bill C-8, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act (Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's call to action number 94), was introduced in the House of Commons on 22 October 2020 by the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. The bill aims to modify the Oath or Affirmation of Citizenship, a change requiring an amendment to the Citizenship Act. The current Oath of Citizenship has not been modified in over 40 years (...)"

"In 2015, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) presented its six-volume final report and 94 calls to action. The TRC spent six years hearing more than 6,500 witnesses across Canada to shed light on the legacy of residential schools and to pave the way to reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. The federal government committed to implementing the calls to action in the areas that fell within its jurisdiction."

"In one of two calls to action pertaining to citizenship, the TRC called upon the federal government to replace the Oath of Citizenship with the following:

I swear (or affirm) that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, Her Heirs and Successors, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of Canada including Treaties with Indigenous Peoples, and fulfill my duties as a Canadian citizen."

 It is possible to follow the progress of the bill through the Canadian Parliament on the LEGISinfo website.