'Citizenship not for sale': Ottawa revoking 3,100 citizenships

Ottawa - Canadian Immigration Minister Jason Kenney announced Monday at a news conference in Ottawa that authorities have begun investigating about 11,000 people suspected of citizenship fraud, while 3,100 will be stripped of citizenship.

As part of an initiative “to protect the value of Canadian citizenship,” Minister of Immigration and Citizenship Jason Kenney announced that immigration officials will work alongside Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the RCMP to probe 11,000 individuals from more than 100 countries who are suspected of attempting to cheat. Nearly 5,000 people have already been “flagged for additional security” and are individuals who are either suspected or known to be trying to cheat the citizenship system. Kenney explained that the crime is usually performed by dishonest and deceitful consultants, who provide information on how to swindle the system. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has already begun the paperwork to revoke the citizenship of up to 3,100 citizens who received it on false pretenses. This process was part of an investigation that was announced by Kenney a year ago. “We are applying the full strength of Canadian law to those who have obtained citizenship fraudulently,” stated Kenney in a press release. “Canadian citizenship is not for sale. We are taking action to strip citizenship and permanent residence status from people who don’t play by the rules and who lie or cheat to become a Canadian citizen.” According to research performed by the CBSA and RCMP, the average family of five may pay up to $25,000 for more than four years to produce a misapprehension of Canadian residence. The federal government will not permit this to happen anymore. Speaking at the National Press Theatre, Kenney noted that 1,800 individuals stopped the application process after they came under scrutiny, which Kenney stated that it’s a sign of how extensive the issue is. “We will not stand for this,” said Kenney, “and allow people to lie and cheat their way into becoming citizens. I encourage anyone who has information regarding citizenship fraud to call our tip line to report it. There is no time limit for investigating this type of fraud.”