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Ottawa to continue taking away citizenship despite constitutional challenge

Canadian officials are standing firm on a controversial citizenship law. Lars Hagberg / File / The Canadian Press

OTTAWA – The federal government will continue revoking citizenship from immigrants accused of misrepresenting themselves in order to enter the country.

Justice Department lawyers sent a letter to the Federal Court today explaining that Ottawa will not issue a moratorium on its policy despite there being no system in place to appeal a decision.

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Two civil society groups have launched a constitutional challenge to the federal law that gives power to the government to revoke citizenship from immigrants accused of lying to get into the country.

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AG report: 50 cases of citizenship fraud discovered

The British Columbia Civil Liberties Association and the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers argue the system isn’t equitable because immigrants cannot properly appeal a decision.

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They argue the government should stop all citizenship revocation until the matter is settled in court.

The government confirmed Friday it will not be changing its policy.

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