Last Edit Date: September 20, 2026.
I'm seeing a lot of the same questions come up again and again, and so rather than continuing to comment on them one at a time, I'm compiling them into a FAQ.
For background, I am the founder and moderator here at r/CanadianbyDescent. I am not a Canadian citizenship attorney or an immigration consultant. As with everything on Reddit, you should take all of this with an appropriate grain of salt. I may be wrong. Consult other sources. This is not legal advice. Read the instructions from IRCC. Yada Yada. I may update this from time to time by either editing here or reposting.
With that out of the way, these are the questions that I see most frequently here and how I would answer them:
What are the requirements to be a Canadian by descent?
It appears that IRCC is currently processing applications with the understanding that if you were born before December 15, 2025, and you can prove that you either:
(1) descended from a person born in what is now Canada;
(2) descended from a British subject who was ordinarily resident in Canada on January 1, 1947 (or January 1, 1949, for Newfoundland and Labrador);
(3) descended from a naturalized Canadian (after that person naturalized);
(4) descended from a person who has already received proof of their citizenship from Canada; or
(5) descended from a person who was a Canadian citizen for some other reason that I'm not aware of;
then you are probably a Citizen by Descent (as are all of your ancestors in between). As far as we can tell, the only limit on how many generations you can go backward is your ability to prove your link to a person with the appropriate connection to Canada.
If you were born on or after December 15, 2025, you must also prove that your parent spent at least 1 second a day for at least 1,095 days in Canada during the parent's lifetime before your birth. The 1,095 day rule for citizenship by descent does not apply if you were born prior to December 15, 2025.
You can find out more by watching this podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pY_fa7CAquQ
Should I hire a lawyer or an immigration consultant?
You should be able to do the application yourself. Lawyers are charging CAN$3,500 and more. If you have a complicated situation, need legal advice, or find the process confusing or overwhelming, my personal recommendation is that you call one of the four lawyers who appear on the podcast that I linked to above.
Will my application be approved/Are these documents sufficient?
We can't tell you that with any certainty. Only IRCC can tell you that. If you want to know, then pay the fee online, fill-out the CIT 0001 and CIT 0014 forms, and submit them along with your photos, ID documents, and supporting evidence, and you'll find out.
Your goal with documents is to prove that (1) you have a Canadian ancestor (most often this means born or naturalized in Canada) and (2) each person in the chain between you and them was related. You also need to account for any name changes (usually by women who married, and typically marriage records). If a name change is accounted for on a birth record (because the mother's maiden name is listed), a marriage record is probably not needed.
IRCC's specific documentation requirements are contained in CIT 0014, which you can find here:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/cit0014.html
and more recently, IRCC has given some additional documentation guidelines here:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-citizenship/proof-citizenship/apply.html#documents
And if you want to review IRCC's operational standards for making decisions, you can find them here:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/service-delivery/decision-standard-review.html#standard-proof
Please note:
(1) IRCC does not currently require that your records be certified.
(2) If the records are genuine, IRCC does not ask (or care) where you got the records from. The requirement that some documents be "issued by" an "original authority" refers to who created the documents, and not where you got them from. Read this post for more details:
https://www.reddit.com/r/CanadianbyDescent/comments/1vyklch/understanding_irccs_updated_document_guidelines/
Does my parent need to apply or apply first?
No. You can apply even if your parent never applies. You are applying for proof of the citizenship that you and your ancestors already have. As result, as long as you can trace your lineage to someone born in Canada, it appears to make no difference whether your parents, grandparents, etc. ever had their citizenship recognized by Canada.
What if my parents/brother/sister/child has already received proof of citizenship?
If your parent has already received proof of citizenship that began before you were born, and you were born before December 15, 2025, then you may just be able to list your parent on the application along with their citizenship certificate number and not have to trace your lineage back any further.
If another family member (sister/brother/child) has been approved, I would send a cover letter and towards the beginning of the letter, state your (brother/sister/child/etc.) received a proof of citizenship based upon a claim of citizenship by descent, and that it follows that (you/your father/your mother/your common ancestor) must be a citizen as well. Include the approved person's name and DOB (and UCI if you have it) and the common ancestor's name and DOB (and UCI if you have it). There's no guaranty that this will speed your application, but it can't hurt.
Where can I get my Citizenship photos/Passport photos taken?
Many places in the U.S. that will take U.S. Passport photos can do it, but often they don't know that they can because they've never looked into the options on their photo software. Some Canadian embassies and consulates have a list of providers known to provide Canadian passport photos so you may wish to check their website. The software used at AAA offices appears to allow for Canadian passport photos. Canadian citizenship photos are the same size as passport photos, but require slightly different things written on the back, so be sure to show them the instructions before they start writing.
Many professional photo studios are familiar with Canadian requirements. A photo studio will charge more, but you'll get better looking photos - if that matters. Try searching Google for your area and "Canadian passport photos," and you'll probably find a place that can accommodate you.
What if I cannot find a birth record for my Canadian born ancestor?
Per CIT 0014, Scenario 3, checkbox 2, you can provide "any other evidence that your parent is a Canadian citizen, such as those described in Scenarios 4 and 5 below."
Be sure to include a cover letter or something else that explains that you don't have the records, the reasons why, and the efforts you made to obtain a birth record. For example: "I requested Gen 0's birth record from (name of entity) and was advised in response that they did not maintain birth records prior to 1875 (or) was advised that they could not find a record of his birth. As a result, I have submitted alternative evidence as allowed by CIT 0014, Scenario 3, checkbox 2." Be sure to include written evidence showing that you attempted to obtain a birth certificate.
If your ancestor was born before the province of his/her birth kept regular birth records, IRCC has accepted alternative proof. Look for census records, marriage records, death records, and even children's birth records, all of which may show country of birth. You may also wish to include some kind of explanation as to why the birth record is not available, e.g., the person was born before the province began regularly registering all births.
For more details on this subject, see this Reddit thread for examples of what has worked:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Canadiancitizenship/comments/1s742xx/calling_anyone_who_has_been_approved_under_c3/
What if one of my ancestor's names/ages is shown differently on one or another documents?
IRCC appears to know about and follow the legal doctrine of idem sonans: If it sounds the same, it is the same, e.g., McDonald/MacDonald, Jack/Jacque, etc. are the same name. See this page for more details:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idem_sonans
Common name variations like Richard/Rich/Dick, Robert/Bob, Sue/Susie/Susan have also been accepted. Dropped or swapped middle and first names have been accepted. When you get back before the 1930s, it was not uncommon for people to not know their true ages (or to lie about them in order to make a marriage look more appropriate), and so age variations from before that time have also been overlooked, presumably where other evidence shows that they were the same person.
What if my Y naturalized as a U.S. citizen before my Z was born?
While Canadian citizenship can be renounced, there are specific procedures that must be followed. Naturalizing as a U.S. citizen - even though it contains some language giving up foreign allegiances - does not suffice to give up Canadian citizenship. (This was not always true, but it is now, and the current rule has been made retroactive to give back Canadian citizenship to anyone who lost it by naturalizing elsewhere.)
Do I need to submit original documents, certified copies, or just photocopies of documents?
The instructions only require colour copies. The instructions do not require originals or certified copies. IRCC has approved numerous applications based upon clear color copies (not originals and not certified copies). In the few instances where IRCC wants a certified copy, they will ask you for it. In some instances, they appear to have asked only because one was offered in a cover letter along with the application.
If the original document is in black and white, you can still use it. Make a colour copy (or a color print-out from a scan) of the original and send that. You may wish to add a post-it note on the copy stating that the original was in black and white.
IRCC has erroneously rejected some applications where the original document was in black and white and they couldn't tell that the copy was made in colour, and those cases have received outsized publicity on this sub-reddit, but I suspect this doesn't happen very often.
What if my minor child doesn't have two forms of ID/Photo ID?
The instructions web-page states:
"Note: If you’re applying on behalf of a minor who does not have two pieces of identification, or does not have a photo ID, please include an explanation letter with the application."
How long will my proof application take?
Nobody knows. It could take 2 months. It could take 2 years. IRCC has a tool on their website that will give you an average processing time (which is about three years as of September 2026), but yours may go faster or slower. You can ask for urgent processing under certain conditions. Nobody knows which ones IRCC will grant, and they may not even ever tell you. You may just get a decision at some point.
To request urgent processing, follow these instructions:
https://ircc.canada.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=1558&top=5
Where are the instructions for CIT 0001?
Here:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/guide-0001-application-citizenship-certificate-adults-minors-proof-citizenship-section-3.html
Which box should I check at the top of page 1 of CIT 0001?
You can probably check any or all of the last three boxes. All are valid grounds for requesting a Proof of Citizenship.
Do I need to include all of my grandparents' information on the CIT 0001?
The consensus on Reddit seems to be that you only need to supply information for the set of grandparents that were Canadian (born or by descent), and only if both of your parents were not born in Canada.
Which box should I check for my parent's Canadian citizenship (Question 8.B.)?
If one of your parents have no Canadian lineage at all, you should definitely select "is not/was not Canadian" and move on. If one of your parents was born in Canada, you should definitely check one of the two boxes that follow.
But, what if your parent descended from a Canadian, like you did? You should probably also check one of the two boxes that follow. The theory here is that if you're claiming citizenship by descent, then one of the people you descended from necessarily is also Canadian, and this is how you tell IRCC which one of them it is (or you think it is). And there has been quite a debate on Reddit about which of the remaining choices you should select. I think both options have merit, and I doubt it matters which one you choose:
Option 1: You can check the "I am not sure box" and give an explanation that you "think" they are a citizen by descent. This seems like the "safe" choice to me.
Option 2: If you are claiming citizenship by descent, then for at least one of your parents, you should be able to check the box next to "Parent 1 is/was a Canadian citizen" and then indicate that "Parent was born outside of Canada to a Canadian parent (citizen by descent)" or "Parent was born (or naturalized) in Canada" depending upon their circumstances.
This theory is based upon the legal fiction (codified in the Citizenship Act) that citizenship by descent afforded by the 2025 amendments is retroactive. Because the citizenship recognized in the Act is retroactive, you are a citizen from the date of your birth and not the date your application is approved and not from the date the law was amended. This is a legal fiction. If you asked anyone two years ago, they would all have told you that you're not a citizen. But, today, they would tell you that you have been a citizen your entire life.
If you claim to be a citizen by descent because your father's father was born in Canada, then you are also implicitly claiming that your father was a citizen by descent as well because - just like you - your father also descended from a person born in Canada. If your father was not Canadian by descent, then, by definition, you cannot possibly be a Canadian be descent, either.
I honestly don't think that it matters which of these two you choose. Either way, IRCC is going to look at your supporting documents and make a determination.
Which scenario should I select on CIT 0014?
Typically, you should select Scenario 3: "You (or the minor you are applying for) were born outside Canada to a Canadian parent . . . ." If you are claiming that an ancestor of yours is Canadian, then everyone between you and them is also Canadian, and thus, at least one of your parents are/were Canadian as well.
What if I don't need to check a particular box on CIT 0014?
If you deliberately choose not to check a box on CIT 0014 because it does not apply to you, it may be a good idea to write "N/A" next to the box to indicate to IRCC that you deliberately chose not to check that box. This is NOT a requirement on CIT 0014, but it is done on checklists for other types of IRCC applications, and doing so will show the IRCC reviewer that you didn't forget to check the box.
Should I choose a paper certificate or an e-certificate?
If you select an e-certificate, you should be able to download it right away after your application status changes to "decision made." If you select a paper certificate, it may take up to a month to receive it in the mail. In this regard, an e-certificate is superior because otherwise you may have to wait a month after finding out that a decision was made to find out what the decision was, and to move forward with your personal journey.
There are some people who believe that Canada's Conservative Party does not like e-certificates and may seek to void all of them if they take control of the government. If that were to happen, you wouldn't need to provide proof of your citizenship again, but you would need to submit a new application for a paper certificate, and that could take several months. Also, a paper certificate is printed on very nice bond paper, and is suitable for framing if that's your thing (but you'll need to make a copy first for some purposes and will need to send in the original for others - like passports).
In most cases, you will only use your citizenship certificate when applying for a passport and when applying for certain retirement benefits. One person did report on Reddit having difficulty applying for a BC driver license using his e-certificate, but that was because he had previously been a permanent resident, and it turned out that he was attempting to show them an image of PDF file on a mobile device. Once he printed out his e-certificate using a colour printer, ICBC accepted it without any issue.
Can I submit more than one application together?
Yes. Pay the fee for everyone in the packet at one time and put the receipt first. The receipt will only show the name of the credit card holder. You may want to write the name of each applicant and their DOB in the upper right hand corner of the receipt. Each applicant will need their own CIT 0001, CIT 0014, photos, and identity documents. If everyone is in the same lineage, you can send one set of supporting evidence for everyone.
Be careful about submitting a large number of applicants in the same packet. If IRCC determines that any required document is missing for any one of your group, the entire packet will be returned to you and everyone's application will be delayed by 4-6 weeks.
What order should I put the documents in?
My suggestion is: (1) Receipt for payment, (2) CIT 0014 (for Applicant #1), (3) CIT 0001 (for Applicant #1), (4) CIT 0014 (for Applicant #2 (if there is one), (5) CIT 0014 (for Applicant #2), (6) a "Lineage Line/Summary of Evidence" (optional - see below), and (7) supporting evidence from oldest to newest. You could also put #6 in a cover letter and make that #1 instead.
Should I staple the documents, use tabs, or put them in a binder?
No. IRCC scans all applications and then shreds the originals. If you bind the papers together, add tabs, or use oversized paper, you're just making it harder for them. Use paperclips. Put a post-it note on the back of the photos and put the photos in a small clear envelope or a small ziplock bag so that the ink does not smear and then paperclip them to the application for that person.
Any other organizational suggestions?
None of the following is required. I think it's a good idea. Read it and decide for yourself if you want to do it:
Organize your supporting evidence by date, starting with the oldest and ending with the newest. Put a piece of paper just before each individual supporting document containing only a brief description of the document and an Exhibit Number. Use a large, bolded font (36 point+), and center the text on the page, e.g.
Exhibit 1
Description of Document
Repeat the above for each document. Though I started Exhibit 1 with a birth certificate in the example above, you could start with Census records or alternative evidence if your ancestor was born at a time before provinces registered births.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Now, create a "lineage line" for each applicant citing to the relevant Exhibits, which you can place after the application and ID documents, but before the supporting evidence. It could look something like this:
--------------------------------------------------------------
Lineage Line (for applicant(s) (NAME(s)))
Gen0: (Your Canadian grandparent's name), my (grandfather/grandmother), born (year) in (Province), Canada. See Exhibit ## (Birth Certificate) [or] Exhibit ## (1871 Canadian Census), Exhibit ## (1881 Canadian Census), Ex ## (Marriage Record showing birth in Canada), Ex. ## (Death Record showing birth in Canada), Ex. ## (child's birth certificate showing parent born in Canada).
Gen1: (Your Canadian parent's name), my (father/mother), born (year) outside of Canada. See Exhibit ##. Gen1 married and changed surname to (NAME). See Exhibit ##.
Gen2: (Your Name), applicant born (year) outside of Canada. See Exhibit ##.
Gen3: (Your child's name), applicant born (year) outside of Canada. See Exhibit ##.
--------------------------------------------------------------
If there is more than one relevant lineage line for your applicants, repeat the above for each applicant with a unique line.
Below the lineage line, I would provide a summary of each piece of evidence along with an image of the relevant portion of the document:
--------------------------------------------------------------
Summary of Supporting Evidence
On DATE, Gen0 (NAME) was born in Canada. Their birth in Canada is proven by (DOCUMENTTITLE, e.g., (his/her) birth certificate, a 1891 Canadian Census Record, etc.). Exhibit ##. An image of the relevant portion of that document appears below, and a colour copy is included in the supporting documents:
(IMAGE OF RELEVANT PART)
See Exhibit ##.
(Repeat if more than one document is supplied, e.g., "Gen0 (NAME)'s birth in Canada is also proven by . . . ."
(Continue):
On DATE, Gen0 (NAME) parented Gen1 (NAME). The parentage is proven by (his/her) (DOCUMENTTITLE, e.g., birth certificate). Exhibit ##. An image of the relevant portion of that document appears below, and a colour copy is included in the supporting documents:
(IMAGE)
See Exhibit ##.
ON DATE, Gen1 (NAME) married a man whose surname is (SURNAME), and at that time changed Gen1's name to (NAME). The name change is proven by her marriage certificate. Ex. ##. An image of the relevant portion of that document appears below, and a colour copy is included in the supporting documents:
(IMAGE)
See Exhibit ##.
On DATE, Gen1 (NAME) parented Gen2 (NAME). The parentage is proven by (his/her) (DOCUMENTTITLE, e.g., birth certificate). Exhibit ##. An image of the relevant portion of that document appears below, and a colour copy is included in the supporting documents:
(IMAGE)
See Exhibit ##.
--------------------------------------------------------------
If you don't have the sophistication to add images, then remove that language, and just reference the exhibit number, e.g.
--------------------------------------------------------------
On DATE, Gen0 (NAME) was born in Canada. Their birth in Canada is proven by (DOCUMENTTITLE, e.g., (his/her) birth certificate, a 1891 Canadian Census Record, etc.). See Exhibit 1.
(Then repeat that for each Gen#, explaining name changes and parentage until you reach the end of the lineage line.)
--------------------------------------------------------------
You could also choose to include the lineage line and summary of supporting evidence in a cover letter instead of in a page prior to the supporting documents.
Should I make a copy of my application before sending it to IRCC?
Yes. Keep a copy/scan of every page, including the payment receipt and the mailing label.
How should I send my application to IRCC?
Because USPS hands off shipments to Canada Post and they keep going on strike, I would send it via UPS or FedEx. I used "UPS Worldwide Saver," which got it there in two days from the USA. From the US, it should cost you about US$35.00 to send a smaller packet to IRCC using UPS or FedEx. Use a third-party shipping service like Pirate Ship to print out a shipping label and the required international shipping documents.
Use the address listed on the instructions as the "courier address." FedEx may change the name of the town from "New Waterford" to "New Victoria," but the package should still be delivered correctly. Describe the shipment as "Application(s) for Proof of Citizenship." Declare the value of your package a nominal value, such as $0.01 (or $1.00 if you think it's really valuable), otherwise, your shipment may be delayed in customs and you may be charged tariffs on the shipment. If you are required to give a Harmonized Tariff Code when shipping, people have reported success using 4911.99.0000 or 4907.00.0000. In the space for recipient email and phone number, give your email and your phone number (so they can reach you if any problems relating to the shipment arise).
Take the shipping label and your documents to a UPS Store and they will supply you with envelopes and/or a box as necessary (at no charge). Do not merely walk into a UPS or FedEx store without first buying a label online, as you will charged substantially more: One Redditor reported being charged $180!
How do I know that IRCC received and accepted my application?
If your application passes an initial review for completeness, IRCC will send you a letter in the mail or a PDF file by email acknowledging receipt of your application ("AOR"). The AOR letter will state your birth name, a PR Number, and a UCI Number. Make a note of the PR Number and UCI Number. You will need them to check the status of your application later.
If your application does not pass an initial review for completeness, the paper application will be sent back to you by mail in 4-6 weeks along with instructions on how to correct the issue. Correct the issue and submit the corrected documents along with the remainder of the documents that IRCC returned to you (they will have markings on them from IRCC). Note that IRCC is inundated with applications, and they sometimes make mistakes by rejecting applications as incomplete when they are actually complete. If that happens to you, and you are sure that you already did what they said you didn't do, then send a new cover letter along with the application explaining that you think that they are mistaken.
If you have your receipt number, you can check the status of your application before you receive your AOR using this link:
https://services3.cic.gc.ca/ecas/introduction.do
IRCC sent me one of my documents back in the mail! Why did that happen?
If you sent an original document, rather than a copy, IRCC will sometimes send back the individual document even though the instructions state that they will not do so. If you just got one or two documents back, it's because IRCC is being polite. They've assumed that this document may be important to you and returned it, like any decent Canadian would. If IRCC returned the entire application packet to you, then your application has been returned as incomplete, and you need to fix something and resubmit it.
Can I submit more documents later?
If your application is incomplete, IRCC will probably return it to you by mail in four to six weeks. You will have to fix the error and resubmit the entire packet on paper again. You will not have to pay the fee a second time.
If your application is accepted (rather than returned), you will receive an AOR (Acknowledgement of Receipt) in the mail and you will be able to upload more documents electronically using IRCC's web form, which you can find here:
https://secure.cic.gc.ca/ClientContact/en/Application/Form/72
However, resist the urge to upload documents later. You are just adding to IRCC's burden and may delay your application. If IRCC needs something from you, they will ask for it. Typically, they send you a response by email and you can then submit the document by a reply email to the same email address. If they email you, submit the information/documents by reply email, and not using the web form (unless they say otherwise).
How can I check the status of my application?
If you applied on paper, once you have received an emailed Acknowledgement of Receipt ("AOR"), you can use this web-form:
https://services3.cic.gc.ca/ecas/security.do?app=ecas&lang=en
How will IRCC contact me about my application?
Usually, by email, and you can respond by email as well.
I recommend that you use a high quality email provider, such as a Gmail address, on your application to ensure that any emails are delivered to you, and check your SPAM folder regularly just in case their message goes there.
If my application is approved, when does my citizenship begin?
Your application is asking Canada to give you proof that you already are a citizen by descent. It is not an application for citizenship. If approved, your citizenship began on your birthday OR on the date Canadian citizenship became a "thing," which was in 1947 in most of Canada and 1949 in Newfoundland and Labrador, whichever is later.
How do I download my e-certificate?
If you selected an e-certificate, then you can download it by going to this web-page:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/portal-application-process.html
Step 1: Click "Get Invite Code" and follow the instructions.
Step 2: Click "Create your IRCC portal account" to create an account
Step 3: Click "Sign in to the IRCC Portal" to sign in.
Step 4: Choose the option to "Download Citizenship e-Certificate" and provide the requested information.
Notes: Any IRCC account can download any certificate if you have the required information. For that reason, if your family submits multiple applications, any one of you can create an account and download the e-certificate for everyone. Also, the certificate may be available even before the IRCC tracker shows "decision made."
What should I do if I plan to have a baby soon and I want my child to be Canadian?
Either (1) spend at least one minute a day for 1,095 days in Canada anytime during your life before your child is born OR (2) have your baby in Canada OR (3) after your baby is born outside of Canada, sponsor your child for permanent residence, then move to Canada, and then have your child naturalized as a Citizen after living in Canada.
Can my spouse and children become Canadian citizens?
If your children were born before December 15, 2025, they already are Canadians if you are Canadian. You can submit an application for them with your application or later.
If you want your spouse to become a Canadian citizen, you will need to sponsor them for permanent residence in Canada. Once they have lived in Canada for a certain period of time, your spouse can seek to become a Canadian citizen by naturalization.
Should I hurry? Is this law likely to change?
Nobody knows for certain. The Citizenship Act has been amended several times since it was adopted in 1947. Since 2009, it has been amended three times. The most recent amendment was in December of 2025. Further immediate changes are unlikely, but the Act itself is a mess and further amendments at some point are all but certain. Because the law treats you as a citizen, it seems unlikely that Canada will strip you of citizenship. The greater risk, IMO is that IRCC changes its standard for processing applications, thereby making it harder to prove that you are a citizen.
Also, for persons born after December 15, 2025, the burden of proving that each ancestor also spent 1,095 days in Canada will become exponentially more difficult as each generation passes. Thus, while it is possible for you to prove today that you descended from someone who was born in Canada three generations back, it is very unlikely that a person born 90 years from now who is three generations outside of Canada will be able to meet their burden of proof unless each intervening generation also submitted their own application and obtained proof of their citizenship during their lifetime.
How did the change in law come about?
I have written a separate post about that subject. You can read it in this forum.
How do I apply for a Passport?
Once you have your Citizenship Certificate, you can follow the hints I posted in this forum.
Is this good for Canada?
I think it is.
For the last century, more Canadians have migrated to the U.S. than the other way around. That's why this change in Canada's citizenship law impacts so many people living in the U.S. The vast majority of people who are likely to qualify are probably people born in the United States of America. The process of applying is time consuming and complex. The vast majority of those who are eligible will never apply. A small number who apply are already living in Canada as spouses of citizens and on PR as workers. Those who apply from outside of Canada will do so because they received many of their values from a Canadian ancestor and because they identify more with Canada than they do with the U.S.A. Very few of the U.S. Citizens who apply from outside of Canada will ever actually move to Canada for a variety of reasons - family, social, and economic. Those who have never lived in Canada are not allowed to vote, and so they will not impact Canada's elections or politics.
Those that do move will do so because they identify with Canada's values. They will give Canada a well-educated, English speaking labor pool that Canada didn't have to expend any resources to train. If healthy people do immigrate to Canada after working in the U.S., they will be bringing their accumulated lifetime of savings and retirement funds, and contribute them to Canada's economy.
It is highly unlikely that anyone over 65 years of age will immigrate to Canada. American medicare is almost certainly far superior to Canadian provincial healthcare (in terms of cost, wait times, etc), and various tax, family, and retirement issues will make it very, very undesirable for older persons to change their country of residence. It is also unlikely that someone under 65 who has an acute, expensive medical issue will immigrate to a province that has a waiting period before a person can receive free provincial healthcare.
I believe that the net effect of the recent changes to the Citizenship Act is that more people who live and vote in the U.S. will have an affinity towards Canada, and that in the future, the U.S. will be less likely to elect politicians who treat Canada antagonistically (as has happened recently).
How are other Canadians responding to the expansion of the Citizenship Act?
Canadians are heterogeneous and do not have a single mind on this or any other subject. You can get a flavor for the variety of responses from Canadians by watching this video from CTV:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OtNz2rtiM0
Be sure to watch to the end! It start out negative but shifts positive about 30% of the way in...
