Conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel Garner is reigniting the debate over birthright citizenship in Canada, focusing on the implications of undocumented migrants. This discussion often resurfaces when "birth tourism" is highlighted, where families, particularly from China, travel to Canada to give birth and then return home. A 2019 report indicated that nearly 25% of births at Richmond Hospital, near Vancouver, were to non-resident women. Andrew Griffith, a former director general of citizenship and multiculturalism, estimated that 1.6% of total births in Canada were to non-residents. Critics argue that this practice exploits the system, raising concerns about the integrity of Canadian citizenship.

Rempel Garner is now emphasizing the estimated 500,000 undocumented migrants in Canada and how their Canadian-born children could affect immigration numbers. The government is currently working to reduce immigration levels, which have reached unsustainable highs. She suggests that requiring at least one parent to be a citizen or permanent resident for a child to receive birthright citizenship would align Canada with countries like Australia, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

Most countries do not grant citizenship solely based on birthplace, with the United States being a notable exception due to the 14th Amendment. Rempel Garner argues that the legal foundations for birthright citizenship in Canada are outdated, as they were established at a time when international travel was not as common.

Opponents of changing the law often cite cost-benefit analyses and potential discrimination based on citizenship status. They argue that birth certificates currently serve as proof of citizenship, and eliminating birthright citizenship could complicate this process. However, Rempel Garner suggests that modernizing birth certificates to indicate parental citizenship status could be a viable solution.

Despite these discussions, the Liberal government has stated it is not interested in changing the law regarding birthright citizenship. The ongoing debate reflects broader concerns about immigration policy and the complexities of citizenship in a changing world.