Ottawa reverses course on some 'lost Canadian' citizenship certificate cancellations

The federal government has reinstated the citizenship status of some "lost Canadians" just days after ordering them to surrender newly issued citizenship certificates and return their Canadian passports.

According to letters shared with The Canadian Press, several individuals who had been told earlier this month that their proof of citizenship was under review received new correspondence over the weekend confirming their citizenship claims remain valid after what Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada described as a "thorough review."

The department previously said that "a few dozen" people who obtained proof of citizenship under Canada's citizenship-by-descent rules had been instructed to surrender their certificates pending further review. Some were also notified that their Canadian passports were no longer valid and had to be returned.

Immigration Minister Lena Diab and her department have not explained what prompted the reviews or why some citizenship certificates were initially revoked before being reinstated.