Conservative lawmakers are urging the governing Liberal party to abolish the practice of “one-click citizenship” and reinstate all citizenship ceremonies as in-person events. Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner criticized the current system, noting that more than half of new Canadian citizens acquired their status online, which she deemed unreasonable. Rempel Garner emphasized the importance of traditional, community-centric citizenship ceremonies in fostering national unity and identity.
The shift to virtual citizenship ceremonies commenced in April 2020 to comply with social distancing measures. Although in-person ceremonies resumed in July 2022, the virtual option remained in place to expedite the citizenship process. The federal government observed a surge in the popularity of virtual ceremonies, with fewer than 10% of new citizens opting for in-person events in the latter half of 2022.
Contrary to the perception of virtual ceremonies being simplistic, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) outlined a multi-step process for participants. This process includes a videoconference for identity verification, witnessing the destruction of the permanent resident card, taking the citizenship oath during a virtual ceremony, and affirming the oath by signing and submitting a document to IRCC.
Despite a proposal in 2023 to allow self-affirmation of the citizenship oath, public feedback leaned against the idea, prompting Conservative MP Tom Kmiec to support a petition demanding a return to in-person ceremonies as the default option. In response, Paul Chiang, the parliamentary secretary to the minister of immigration, refugees, and citizenship, highlighted the benefits of virtual ceremonies in reducing citizenship ceremony wait times.
IRCC affirmed its commitment to maintaining both in-person and virtual ceremonies nationwide, emphasizing their dedication to delivering inclusive and celebratory citizenship experiences.