Canada's Liberals moved today to stop stripping dual nationals convicted of terrorism, treason or spying, or who belong to any group fighting the nation of their Canadian citizenship.
The amendment to the Citizenship Act was promised by the Liberals during last year's legislative elections.
Only one person has ever lost their Canadian citizenship under the regulation introduced by the previous Tory administration, and it will now be restored automatically, immigration ministry officials said.
The overhaul of the law comes as France last week moved in the other direction to impose tighter restrictions on its citizens amid growing terror fears. Britain has a similar measure in place, while Spain, Belgium and a handful of other countries also do in the case of dual nationals. US law allows for nationality to be stripped in treason cases.
"This law created two classes of Canadians," Immigration Minister John McCallum told a press conference. "We believe very strongly that there should be only one class of Canadians, that all Canadians are equal, that a Canadian is a Canadian is a Canadian."
"Under the previous law, there was also a risk of a slippery slope. If one crime made you eligible for revocation this year, what crimes could be added next year," he added.
