# CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP ACT, 1946 — WHAT IT MEANS FOR THIS FAMILY

SOURCE: Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 (official museum of Canadian immigration history)
LIVE URL: https://pier21.ca/research/immigration-history/canadian-citizenship-act-1947
ACCESSED: 2026-09-03
LOCAL COPY: canadian-citizenship-act-1947-pier21.html (full page snapshot saved alongside this file)

## Key statements (quoted directly from the page)

"The Canadian Citizenship Act of 1946 created the category of Canadian citizenship and
allowed residents of Canada to obtain citizenship regardless of their country of origin.
Prior to 1947, individuals born in Canada and naturalized immigrants were classified as
British subjects rather than Canadian citizens."

"The Canadian Citizenship Act came into effect on 1 January 1947 under the government of
Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King. The act established Canadian citizenship as a
distinct category..."

"Canadian citizenship was automatically conferred upon natural-born Canadians, which
included those born outside of Canada if their father was born in Canada or was a British
subject with Canadian domicile."

## What this proves for Jack's file

1. Before 1 January 1947 there was NO such thing as a Canadian citizen. People born in
   Canada (including Antoine Barabé, born 1837 in Quebec) were classified as "British
   subjects."
2. Canadian citizenship as a legal status began on 1 January 1947 — nearly 50 years
   AFTER Antoine died (14 April 1898, Negaunee, Michigan, USA).
3. Antoine therefore never held Canadian citizenship, never could have held it, and had
   nothing to transmit to his children. His children, grandchildren, and great-
   grandchildren were all born in the United States.