Navigating the New Era of Canadian Citizenship: Beyond the First-Generation Limit

CILA is excited to invite you to our upcoming CLE webinar, “Navigating the New Era of Canadian Citizenship: Beyond the First-Generation Limit.”

The landscape of Canadian citizenship has undergone its most significant transformation in decades. With the passing and implementation of Bill C-3 (formerly Bill C-71) as of December 15, 2025, the “unconstitutional” first-generation limit is officially a thing of the past.

For immigration practitioners, this shift represents more than just a legislative update—it is a massive expansion of potential clients and a complete rewrite of the rules for citizenship by descent. Families who were previously told their children had no claim to Canadian status are now looking to you for guidance.

Are you prepared to navigate the “Substantial Connection” test? Can you identify which “Lost Canadians” have been automatically reinstated?

Join Us for an Intensive Practitioner’s Briefing

This 90-minute webinar is designed specifically for immigration lawyers. We will move beyond the headlines to provide a technical, deep-dive analysis of the new legislative framework,  IRCC’s updated processing guidelines, and the practicalities of proving physical presence under the new rules.

What You Will Learn:

• The End of the First-Generation Limit (FGL): A detailed breakdown of the 2023 Ontario Superior Court ruling in Bjorkquist et al. v. Attorney General of Canada and how Bill C-3 fully remedies the unconstitutional “two-tier” citizenship scheme.

• The “Substantial Connection” Test: Mastering the new requirement for parents born abroad. Learn how to calculate and document the 1,095 days of physical presence required prior to a child’s birth or adoption to ensure citizenship transmission.

• Retroactive Reinstatement vs. Prospective Rules: Identifying clients born before December 15, 2025, who may now be automatic citizens, versus the specific criteria for those born after the law’s commencement.

• The Impact on International Adoptions: Understanding the new pathways for children adopted abroad by Canadian parents and how the connection test applies to non-biological lineages.

• Practical Filing Strategies: Navigating the updated IRCC application forms for Proof of Citizenship (Certificates) and managing files previously submitted under interim measures.

Join our panelists: Catherine Sas, KC (Moderator and Immigration Lawyer), Shawn Riel (IRCC Civil Servant), Amandeep Hayer (Immigration Lawyer), Bruce Allen (Immigration Lawyer), and Theresa McVean (Chair, Canada Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists) for this in-depth discussion!

Program Details:

Date: Thursday February 19, 2026

Time: 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM ET

Registration: $50 for CILA Members and Law Students; Open to eligible Non-Members ($100 per ticket).

Register now to secure your spot!