Currently, Canada’s law says anyone who is born on Canadian soil receives citizenship (even if your parents aren’t Canadian citizens). But this law has been highly debated, with some politicians and citizens dubbing it “birth tourism.”
What is ‘birth tourism’
So-called “birth tourism” is when pregnant, non-Canadian women fly to Canada in order to give birth and secure citizenship for their babies.
The practice has received criticism in the past, with a petition started in March by a Richmond, B.C. resident, Kerry Starchuk. The petition urges the government to end the policy, and claims people are taking advantage of the policy to receive Canada’s benefits.
In addition to receiving benefits, like healthcare and education, when the children become adults, they can also sponsor their parents to immigrate to Canada.
The petition, supported by Liberal Richmond MP Joe Peschisolido, says the practice of “birth tourism” is very costly for taxpayers, “since it can be used to gain access to Canada’s publicly subsidized post-secondary education system and to take advantage of Canada’s public healthcare system and generous social security programs, all without having to contribute much to the funding of these systems and programs.”
What about other countries?
Australia and New Zealand and many European nations have changed their birthright citizenship laws, granting citizenship to babies only when at least one parent is a citizen or legal resident.
Some countries, like India, have abolished it completely.