Ottawa: Canada has taken a major step to modernise its citizenship laws. Under the law, people who were left out in old rules will get an opportunity to pass the country’s citizenship to their children who were either born or adopted outside the country.

Recently, Bill C-3, was given clearance and is expected to benefit thousands of Indian-origin families living in the country. The bill was cleared in the Senate last Wednesday, a report by CBC News said.

What the govt said in statement

"It will provide citizenship to people who were excluded by previous laws, and it will set clear rules for the future that reflect how modern families live. These changes will strengthen and protect Canadian citizenship," the government said in a statement. While the new law is not yet effective, the clearance showed that the same will be implemented soon.

The previous law of the first-generation limit to Canadian citizenship created problems for many Indian-origin families in the country. It was a major problem for families whose children were born out of the country, PTI reported.

Bill to help Indian-origin Canadians

The new law will help in passing citizenship to those from the next generation, if parents have spent at least three years in the country before their birth or adoption. Notably, under the ‘second generation cut-off rule’, id their parents were also born abroad. Under the new law, children whose parents were also born abroad will get citizenship. The parents must have ‘substantial connections’ in the country.

The bill will benefit those citizens who raise their families abroad for a variety of reasons and yet maintain a strong connection with Canada. While the new law is waiting a cabinet order for the implementation date, a Canadian court has already pushed the deadline to make the new law effective.