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December 11, 2017 – Canada’s federal government is contracting out the Canadian citizenship test to the private sector.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has put out a request for companies to generate a pool of 400 multiple choice questions, a blueprint for how the test will look, and 15 versions of the test.
The government immigration department does not reveal how much it wants to pay the contractor, but the deadline for proposals is mid-January for a contract expected to last 12 months.
A new test is required in conjunction with an ongoing overhaul of the study guide produced for those preparing to become Canadian citizens. No date has been confirmed for either the rollout of the study guide or the test, although it would make sense for both to happen at the same time.
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As part of the government’s request for proposals related to the test, it noted the guide is undergoing ‘significant revisions’, meaning the test ‘will need to be updated to reflect the new version’.
A draft version of the study guide leaked in July was controversial because it did not feature a warning on ‘barbaric cultural practices’ included in the current edition. The section was inserted by the previous Conservative government in the previous overhaul, which took place in 2011.
Further changes in the daft included more detail about Canadian discrimination against Chinese people, South Asians, Jews and the disabled. There was also an expanded section on LGBTQ rights, the residential school system and on the history and current lives of Canada’s Indigenous Peoples.
It should be noted that this was a draft and it is not known if the changes will end up in the final version.
How the Citizenship Test Works
The Canadian citizenship test is designed to ensure candidates know about Canada’s history, politics and geography, among a number of subjects. It is one of a number of requirements for becoming a citizen.
Candidates must score at least 15 on a 20-question test, and are given a second chance if they fail. Those who fail a second time have to meet with an immigration officer who assesses if they meet requirements. If a candidate fails this face-to-face test, they are refused.
The current test has been criticized for being over-positive about Canada’s history and its current global standing.
Canada’s Citizenship Act is currently undergoing a number of changes following the successful passing of Bill C-6 on June 19, 2017. Two of three waves of changes have already been implemented, with the final wave expected in early 2018.
The key change related to the citizenship test was enacted as part of a wave of alterations that came into effect on October 11, 2017. This saw the age range of those required to take the test change to 18 to 54, from 14 to 64.
Other important changes implemented in October included the reduction of the physical presence requirement for permanent residents to qualify for citizenship, from four years in six to three years in five.
Summary of Changes That Took Place in October 2017
| Previous Citizenship Act | Citizenship Act with Bill C-6 Amendments |
| Applicants had to be physically present in Canada for four out of six years before applying for citizenship. | Applicants must be physically present in Canada for three out of five years before applying for citizenship. |
| Applicants had to file Canadian income taxes, if required to do so under the Income Tax Act, for four out of six years, matching the physical presence requirement. | Applicants must file Canadian income taxes, if required to do so under the Income Tax Act, for three out of five years, matching the new physical presence requirement. |
| Applicants had to be physically present in Canada for 183 days in four out of the six years preceding their application. | This provision is repealed. Applicants no longer have to meet this requirement. |
| Time spent in Canada prior to becoming a permanent resident did not count towards the physical presence requirement for citizenship. | Applicants may count each day they were physically present in Canada as a temporary resident or protected person before becoming a permanent resident as a half-day toward meeting the physical presence requirement for citizenship, up to a maximum credit of 365 days. |
| Applicants between 14 and 64 years had to meet the language and knowledge requirements for citizenship. | Applicants between 18 and 54 years must meet the language and knowledge requirements for citizenship. |
The new changes are the second wave to take place after Bill C-6 was given Royal Assent on June 19, 2017.
The first wave, which happened immediately upon the passing of the bill, included the removal of citizenship revocation powers, the declaration of intent to reside requirement and a move to allow minors to apply for Canadian citizenship.
Summary of Changes That Took Place in June 2017
| Previous Citizenship Act | Citizenship Act with Bill C-6 Amendments |
| Citizenship could be revoked from dual citizens convicted of treason, spying and terrorism offences, depending on the sentence received, or who were a part of an armed force of a country or organized group engaged in conflict with Canada. | This provision is repealed. Dual citizens living in Canada who are convicted of these crimes will face the Canadian justice system, like other Canadian citizens who break the law. |
| Applicants were required to intend to continue to live in Canada if granted citizenship. | This provision is repealed. Applicants are no longer required to intend to continue to live in Canada once granted citizenship. This provides more flexibility to Canadians who may need to live outside of Canada for work or personal reasons. |
| The Minister had the discretion to waive certain requirements under subsection 5(1) of the Citizenship Act so a minor could obtain citizenship without a Canadian parent. | Minors can now apply for citizenship without a Canadian parent, as the age requirement for citizenship has been removed under subsection 5(1). A person having custody of the minor or empowered to act on their behalf by court order, written agreement or operation of law, can now apply for citizenship on behalf of the minor, unless that requirement is waived by the Minister. |
| No provision existed to prevent individuals serving a sentence in the community (a conditional sentence order) from being granted citizenship, taking the Oath of Citizenship or counting this time towards meeting the physical presence requirements for citizenship. | Individuals serving a conditional sentence will not be granted citizenship, take the Oath of Citizenship, or be able to count this time towards meeting the physical presence requirements for citizenship. |
| The Minister has the discretion to grant citizenship to a person to alleviate cases of special and unusual hardship, or to reward services of an exceptional value to Canada. | Statelessness has been added as a stand-alone ground that can be considered for a discretionary grant of citizenship. |
| The Department has reasonable measures to accommodate the needs of citizenship applicants. However, there was no explicit reference to accommodate persons with disabilities in the Citizenship Act. | The requirement to take into consideration reasonable measures to accommodate the needs of a citizenship applicant who is a disabled person is now included in the Citizenship Act. |
| The requirement for applicants to maintain the requirements for citizenship from the time they apply for citizenship until taking the Oath of Citizenship only applied to applications received on or after June 11, 2015. | This requirement now also applies to all applications, including those received before June 11, 2015. |
Meanwhile, a third wave of changes are planned to take place in early 2018, the foremost of which is to return power to the Federal Court in all citizenship revocation cases. Currently, the immigration minister can revoke citizenship on the grounds of false representation, fraud, or knowingly concealing material circumstances.
Early 2018 will also see authority for citizenship officers to seize fraudulent or suspected fraudulent documents.
Changes to Take Effect Early 2018
| Previous Citizenship Act | Citizenship Act with Bill C-6 Amendments |
| The Minister was the decision-maker for most cases of citizenship revocation on the grounds of false representation, fraud, or knowingly concealing material circumstances. The Federal Court was the decision-maker for citizenship revocation cases involving false representation, fraud, or knowingly concealing material circumstances related to security, human or international right violations, and organized criminality. | The Federal Court is the decision-maker in all revocation cases, unless the individual requests that the Minister make the decision. |
| There was no clear authority for Citizenship Officers to seize fraudulent or suspected fraudulent documents provided under the Citizenship Act. | Clear authority for Citizenship Officers to seize fraudulent or suspected fraudulent documents is provided under the Citizenship Act. |
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