Sean Kilpatrick/THE CANADIAN PRESS The government is arguing that international law does not require Canada to give citizenship to babies born on its soil in a case that will determine whether the Toronto-born sons of Russian spies are Canadian citizens. "Indeed, no European countries, for example, grant an unqualified automatic citizenship by birth and they have no obligation to do so," the federal submission says. "Only 34 countries grant the automatic acquisition of citizenship through birthplace regardless of parents' nationality or status. Nothing in international law requires Canada to bestow citizenship on the basis of birth, much less to give citizenship to children born to parents in the service of a foreign government. "A review of citizenship entitlements in various countries reveals a multitude of variations and restrictions on automatic citizenship by birth."

Source: Huffington Post September 08, 2018 19:11 UTC