The Act tightened the requirements for applying for Canadian citizenship by increasing the required length of physical presence in Canada by the applicant.[3] Canadian citizens who are dual citizens can have their citizenship revoked for fraud in obtaining citizenship, engaging in armed conflict against Canada, or being convicted of treason, espionage, or terrorism with significant prison sentences, by a citizenship and immigration minister instead of a judge.[2]
Zakaria Amara was stripped of his citizenship under the Act on 26 September 2015.[7] However, on 19 June 2017, Amara's Canadian citizenship was automatically restored following the passage of Bill C-6 of the 42nd Parliament of Canada,[8] which had been introduced by John McCallum and had the effect of deleting several of the SCCA's provisions most notably the terrorist grounds for revocation.[9]
The bill had elicited much controversy.[10] Experts told the Toronto Star in June that the bill was "discriminatory" and "weakens citizenship".[11] Academic Wesley Wark criticized the bill, saying "[it] is too much power in the hands of a minister."[12]
