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

ACA is pleased to share that Kyle Pugh, ACA Treasurer and Ontario Regional Councils Archivist at the United Church of Canada, has been featured in the Toronto Star.

The article, “Why this Toronto man is being flooded with requests from Americans about their Canadian ancestors,” highlights the growing number of genealogy and records requests connected to Canadian ancestry research. It also speaks to the wider pressures many archives, archivists, and archival workers are experiencing as public demand for access to records continues to increase.

This coverage comes at an important moment for the archival community. Across Canada, archives are seeing rising workloads, growing public expectations, and increasing pressure to support rising numbers of research requests, often with limited resources.

We are grateful to Kyle for helping bring public attention to this issue and for highlighting the essential role archives play in connecting people with their histories.

The article is available through the Toronto Star here: Why this Toronto man is being flooded with requests from Americans about their Canadian ancestors

Please note that the article may be behind a paywall.

Today, the Board of the Association of Canadian Archivists sent a letter detailing the ACA’s concerns about the program review of the Museum of Dufferin, specifically the County of Dufferin Archives program, and the proposed elimination of Archives staff.

According to the County’s meeting agenda and supporting documents, the program review considers three options:

• Archives Program
• Museum of Dufferin Dissolution
• Programming & Outreach Coordinator Positions

Of particular concern is the Museum of Dufferin Dissolution section, which proposes the elimination of personnel and operating costs and raises significant concerns about the future stewardship of more than 48,000 artifacts and archival records.

The Museum of Dufferin has been in operation since 1994 and serves a county of more than 66,000 residents. The museum includes four galleries, two artifact storage rooms, one archival storage area, and four heritage buildings. In 2025, it delivered more than 80 programs and welcomed over 7,000 onsite visitors. Since 2019, the Museum has seen significant increases in general admission, school program attendance, and event participation. It also administers a volunteer program involving more than 30 local residents.

The Museum of Dufferin provides a wide range of programs and care for important collections, including:

• programs and tours for seniors
• weekly toddler programs
• six weeks of summer camp for children aged 5 to 12
• curriculum-based programming for local school groups
• programs for community organizations and interest groups, including Guides, Embers, Scouts, local heritage groups, quilting guilds, and others
• stewardship of more than 48,000 artifacts and archival records
• care for more than 80 Indigenous artifacts
• stewardship of the largest public collection of Canadian Corn Flower Glass
• care for the County of Dufferin’s municipal records
• preservation of rare documents and photographs relating to the history of the region
• rental space for events, meetings, and programs
• events and markets featuring local artists and makers, supporting more than 100 small businesses annually

The ACA is particularly concerned by the potential loss of archival staff capacity and by the implications of any proposal that could weaken stewardship, access, and long-term care for the records and collections.

Readers who wish to review the County’s agenda can do so here. 

Read the ACA’s letter here.

Board of Directors
Association of Canadian Archivists

Early Bird Registration Now Open for the ACA 2026 Virtual Conference

The Association of Canadian Archivists is pleased to announce that Early Bird registration is now open for the ACA 2026 Virtual Conference, taking place June 8–11, 2026.

This year’s conference, “How Does That Help Me? Making Archival Theory Relevant to Daily Practice,” will explore the connections and disconnections  between archival theory and the everyday realities of archival work. Across four days of virtual programming, participants will hear from archivists working across and beyond the discipline on topics including engagement with systematically marginalized communities, preservation on a budget, and implementation of the Reconciliation Framework released by the Steering Committee on Canada’s Archives.

Register by April 22, 2026 to take advantage of Early Bird pricing. As a special promotion, Early Bird non-member registration includes a complimentary ACA membership valid through December 31, 2026.

A limited number of subsidized tickets are also available to help support access to the conference. Those wishing to request a fee subsidy are invited to complete the Fee Subsidy Form.

We are also inviting support through our sponsor and vendor opportunities, and welcome donations to the Association of Canadian Archivists Foundation (ACAF) to help create additional fee subsidies for attendees.

To learn more, view the preliminary program, or register, visit the 2026 Virtual Conference page. Questions may be directed to Mab Coates-Davies, Executive Director, at Executive.Director@archivists.ca.

The Association of Canadian Archivists is excited to see ACA member Sarah Hanahem, Chair of the Public Awareness & Advocacy Committee, featured in recent CBC coverage about Bill C-3 and its impact on archival organizations. Sarah’s inclusion in the story helps spotlight the essential role archivists play in supporting access to documentary evidence and family history.

Bill C-3, which came into force on December 15, 2025, changed the rules around Canadian citizenship by descent and expanded eligibility in some circumstances beyond the first generation born abroad. These changes have increased public demand for archival records and related research support.

Sarah’s voice in this national story is an example of public awareness and advocacy in action. At a time when many archives are facing growing workloads from citizenship-related requests, this visibility helps underscore the value of archival labour and the need for sustainable support for archival organizations. 

Read the story here. 

The ACA has sent a letter to express its concern over the unintended consequences of Bill C-3, an amendment to the Citizenship Act, on archival institutions and professionals across the country. 

Bill C-3’s retroactive “citizenship by descent” policy has resulted in an unprecedented increase in requests for documentation proving ancestral ties to Canada. As the primary custodians of vital statistics, military service records, and sacramental records (including baptismal, marriage, and burial registers), archives have been inundated with requests for certified copies of these records.

Some archives are reporting a five-fold increase in requests, and close to a thousand requests per month since the beginning of the year, with no capacity to increase staffing. This imposes an extreme and unsustainable burden on archival professionals. 

We asked the government for the following: 

1. Provide Clear Guidance on the viability of using mid-19th-century or even earlier historic records for citizenship purposes (e.g., does having a Canadian great-great grandfather qualify you for citizenship?). If these records do not meet the evidentiary threshold for IRCC, we urge the Government to issue a formal statement to that effect. 

2. Restore Funding to the DHCP: It is a contradiction to drastically increase the work of archival institutions while simultaneously cutting what little government funding they can apply for. Many of the organizations most affected by these changes are those who desperately need the Documentary Heritage Communities Program. 

Read our full letter here.  

Last week, the ACA sent a letter to Minister Marc Miller expressing our concerns about proposed reductions to the Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) and Proactive Access functions at Library and Archives Canada (LAC).

The proposed $13.6M reduction in federal funding will impact positions in the ATIP Branch and across the organization. Cuts to ATIP functions will adversely affect the ways in which information is accessible to the public. Canadians attempting to access information about personal and national histories already face significant barriers to access.

As records professionals, we recognize the importance of creating, preserving and providing access to records as an essential element of a healthy democracy. Open access to records promotes democracy and protects citizens’ rights. Accessing information in Library and Archives Canada is also a component of supporting the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action. These proposed cuts will hinder that access.

Read the letter here. 

The Board of Directors for the Association of Canadian Archivists

Early this week the ACA Board received an email from Leslie Weir, Library and Archivist of Canada, informing us that the Documentary Heritage Communities Program (DHCP) has been permanently discontinued and that there will be reductions to the Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) functions. These measures are the result of cuts in the federal budget. 

The DCHP provides program funding that helps underfunded community-based organizations increase access to, and awareness of their holdings; and increase their capacity to keep and preserve Canada's documentary heritage. Over the past 10 years, the DHCP has provided $16 million in funding to support more than 400 projects aimed at preserving and increasing access to local, regional, and national history. 

The ACA Board is sending letters to the Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages, the Honourable Marc Miller, protesting the elimination of the DHCP and the reduction to ATIP. We have also completed a call to action to restore the DCHP that has been published below and will be included in this month's Scope and Content, as well as, on the ACA website.

1. Letter addressed to The Honourable Minister Marc Miller 

2. Downloadable Call to Action Package (.docx). Package includes Statement and template emails. 

The Board of Directors for the Association of Canadian Archivists

The Association of Canadian Archivists is pleased to announce the appointment of a new Executive Director, effective 9 February 2026.

Mab Coates-Davies will assume the role of Executive Director, bringing more than seven years of experience in nonprofit leadership. Mab currently serves as Chief Operating Officer at the Textile Museum of Canada in Toronto. They hold a Bachelor’s degree in Public History from Concordia University and a Master’s degree in Nonprofit Leadership and Philanthropy from Carleton University.

The ACA Board of Directors welcomes Mab and looks forward to their leadership in advancing the Association’s mission.

Board of Directors
Association of Canadian Archivists

The ACA Membership Committee is pleased to announce that applications for the 2026 cohort of mentors and mentees is now open. Applications will be open until December 15, 2025 with pairing completed by the end of January. 

The program aims to integrate new archivists (mentees) into the Canadian archival community by matching them with experienced archivists (mentors) who advise and guide them on career and professional development, with an added option for archivists who identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Colour (BIPOC) to meet together.

Being a volunteer mentor is a rewarding opportunity for ACA members with at least 5 years of experience as an archivist (exceptions possible). BIPOC mentors who require financial assistance are eligible for a limited number of subsidized individual memberships.

Students and new professionals applying to be mentees must also be ACA members. New professionals identifying as BIPOC can request the ACA's student membership rate if they require financial support to participate.

Mentors are matched with mentees based primarily on shared interests and secondarily on geographic location.  The Membership Committee is grateful to partner with the ACA's BIPOC Special Interest Section, who will match BIPOC-to-BIPOC mentorships.

More details on the mentorship program and application forms are at archivists.ca/Mentorship

Send questions about the program to Mentorship Program Coordinators Susan McClure and Heather Hubert  at mentorship.program@archivists.ca

The forms can be accessed here.

Kind regards,  

Membership Committee