Last updated: May 22, 2026

The Association of Canadian Archivists is monitoring the impact of Bill C-3, An Act to amend the Citizenship Act, on archives and archival workers across Canada.

Bill C-3 came into effect on December 15, 2025, changing citizenship-by-descent rules in Canada. As more people seek records to understand or prove their connection to Canadian citizenship, many archives are experiencing increased research requests related to family history, vital records, sacramental records, immigration records, military records, and other documentary evidence.

This issue has received growing media attention, and the ACA is using this page to share updates, resources, and opportunities for members to contribute information about how these changes are affecting archival work.

Why this matters to archives

Archives play a vital role in preserving and providing access to the records that help people understand their families, communities, and legal identities. While Bill C-3 is a citizenship issue, its implementation has direct implications for archival institutions and workers.

Members have shared that increased records requests are adding pressure to institutions that are already managing limited staffing, growing workloads, and reduced funding opportunities, including the 2025 cancellation of the Documentary Heritage Communities Program.

The ACA is gathering information from members to better understand these impacts and to advocate for the resources archives need to respond effectively.

Share your experience

ACA members and archival workers are encouraged to share how Bill C-3, increased research demand, funding cuts, and workload pressures are affecting their institutions.

Your input will help the ACA:

• document current pressures across the archival sector;
• represent member experiences in conversations with partners and decision-makers;
• identify common needs and service pressures;
• support public understanding of the essential role archives play.

Complete the survey

Recent media coverage

The ACA will continue to update this section as new articles and interviews are published.

• BAnQ requests for Canadian ancestry documents explodes from Americans looking to get citizenship, CBC Listen, Mar 25, 2026
• More Americans inquiring about Canadian citizenship due to Bill C-3: Immigration lawyers, Global News, May 20, 2026
• N.S. sees surge in ancestral record requests following new bill, CBC.ca, Mar 28, 2026
  
• Why this Toronto man is being flooded with requests from Americans about their Canadian ancestors, Toronto Star, May 8, 2026
• Millions of Americans can now claim Canadian citizenship by descent. But they have to prove it, CBC.ca, Mar 8, 2026
  

Resources

• Government of Canada: Changes to citizenship rules under Bill C-3
• Immigration and Citizenship Canada: Applying for proof of Canadian citizenship
• ACA: Survey/member input form
• ACA: Call to Action Package: Restore the Documentary Heritage Communities Program

For media inquiries

Journalists interested in speaking with ACA about the archival impacts of Bill C-3 may contact:

Mab Coates-Davies
Executive Director, Association of Canadian Archivists
executive.director@archivists.ca

The ACA can help connect media with archivists and archival institutions who are seeing the effects of increased records requests, where appropriate.

This page will be updated

As this issue develops, the ACA will continue to update this page with new media coverage and information