Which current Canadian MPs or senators hold dual citizenship and from which countries?
Executive summary
There is no Canadian law barring MPs or senators from holding dual citizenship; past reporting found at least 22 sitting parliamentarians held dual or triple citizenship and about 56 members were born abroad (44 MPs, 12 senators) in the parliaments surveyed by CBC/other outlets [1] [2]. High‑profile examples include Andrew Scheer (Canadian and U.S. citizenship) and long‑recognized figures such as Stéphane Dion, illustrating the recurring political debate but not any formal legal prohibition [3] [4].
1. Canada’s basic rule: dual citizenship is permitted in Parliament
Canada does not disqualify MPs or senators for holding another citizenship; the Canada Elections Act and parliamentary eligibility rules do not bar dual nationals from sitting in the House of Commons or the Senate, a contrast repeatedly noted in reporting that compares Canada to countries such as Australia [5] [1].
2. How many and where they come from: numbers reported by CBC and others
CBC reporting and subsequent compilations found that in recent parliaments dozens of parliamentarians were foreign‑born and at least 22 MPs and senators held citizenships in addition to Canadian — the 22 figure is the frequently cited baseline in multiple reports [1] [2]. Another count cited 56 parliamentarians born outside Canada (44 MPs and 12 senators) which overlaps but is not identical to the count of those holding extra citizenships [1] [2].
3. Who we can name from the record: some documented examples
Media reports identify specific cases: Andrew Scheer has been publicly identified as holding Canadian and U.S. citizenship [3] [6]. Stéphane Dion has been documented as holding Canadian and French citizenship and faced public debate about it [4] [7]. Other MPs and senators with dual or multiple citizenships have been referenced in surveys and stories (for example, figures linked to origins in Pakistan, the U.K., Lebanon, Syria, Poland and others), but comprehensive, current lists are not published in the sources provided [1] [2].
4. What motivates disclosure, renunciation and controversy
Political scrutiny often follows when dual citizenship intersects with leadership roles or electoral attacks. Some politicians voluntarily renounced foreign citizenship when seeking the prime minister’s office (historical examples cited in media) while others argued that dual nationality is common and not disqualifying for representation in a multicultural country [8] [5]. The Australia case — where Section 44 disqualified MPs for foreign citizenship — is repeatedly used as a foil to show Canada’s different approach [1] [2].
5. Limits of the available reporting and what’s not in the sources
Available sources do not provide an up‑to‑date, exhaustive roster of every current MP and senator who holds dual citizenship; the figures cited (e.g., “at least 22”) come from CBC and related compilations and appear as snapshots rather than real‑time registers [1] [2]. The provided material names a few individuals (Scheer, Dion) and cites broader counts, but does not supply a complete, sourced list of names and countries for the present parliament [3] [4] [1].
6. Competing perspectives: national norms vs. symbolic concerns
Academics and some politicians frame dual citizenship as consistent with Canada’s multicultural identity and practical realities — “it’s kind of this idea that your patriotism is determined by where you were born” — while critics have used foreign citizenship to question loyalty or suitability for certain offices [5] [2]. Media coverage demonstrates both defenses of dual nationality and political attacks that exploit it, without legal backing for disqualification in Canada [5] [7].
7. What a reader should take away
Dual citizenship among Canadian parliamentarians is common, legally permitted and politically contested; journalists and researchers typically rely on direct disclosures, parliamentary office responses and past surveys to compile counts [1] [2]. If you need a current, name‑by‑name inventory, available sources do not mention a definitive public registry in the materials provided here — compiling such a list requires direct inquiries to MPs’ offices, up‑to‑date parliamentary disclosures or a dedicated, current investigation [1] [2].
Limitations: this analysis uses only the supplied reporting and cannot assert the current status of every MP or senator; the counts and examples cited come from CBC and other media snapshots rather than a continuously updated government list [1] [2].