Borders & immigration Families & seniors

Citizenship for former foster children

C-274 An Act to amend the Citizenship Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act

Creates a path to citizenship for people who left foster or child welfare care without it and pauses deportations while they apply.

What Bill C-274 would do

The bill would create a path to citizenship for people who were not citizens when they transitioned out of the care of a child welfare agency or foster parent. It would also prevent deportation orders from being enforced against those individuals while their citizenship applications are under review. The published material gives no further detail.

Official text (opens in a new tab)

Official summary

This enactment amends the Citizenship Act to provide a path to citizenship for certain persons who were not citizens when they transitioned out of the care of a child welfare agency or foster parent. It also amends the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to provide that a removal order cannot be enforced against such persons who are applying for citizenship until a final decision is made on their application.

The government's summary, printed at the front of the bill as introduced.

Kind: Private member's bill
Sponsor: Jenny Kwan, Member of Parliament (Vancouver East)
Introduced: April 20 in the House of Commons
Last activity: April 20

Where it stands

ProposedApr 20
Being debated
Almost law
Law

Waiting its turn; not scheduled for debate

First reading in the House done April 20

Before the House on 1 sitting day, April 20
Second reading in the House now
Committee in the House not yet
Report stage in the House not yet
Third reading in the House not yet
First reading in the Senate not yet
Second reading in the Senate not yet
Third reading in the Senate not yet
Royal assent not yet

Exact procedural stages

Officially: Outside the Order of Precedence · since April 20, 2026.

House
1. First reading in the House: done, 2026-04-20
2. Second reading in the House: current stage
3. Committee in the House: not yet reached
4. Report stage in the House: not yet reached
5. Third reading in the House: not yet reached
Senate
1. First reading in the Senate: not yet reached
2. Second reading in the Senate: not yet reached
3. Third reading in the Senate: not yet reached
Royal assent
1. Royal assent: not yet reached

Debates in the House 0

No debate on this bill is in the record we hold yet.

Discussion

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Status, stages and votes from LEGISinfo. Debates are linked from the House's own record of what was before it. Grades are the site's analysis of each statement.