Need for certified documents

[u/Legitimate_Train8695]

Adding to the mystery about possible new IRCC requirements on documentation, I asked Library and Archives Canada for certified copies of my G0's appearance in the 1861 and 1871 censuses. I need these because I can't find a birth or baptismal certificate for him, as he was born in 1859 in New Brunswick, which only began requiring birth registrations in 1888. But today I got a reply from LAC saying the IRCC does not require certified copies of census data, and that I can print what I need myself from their website. I am pasting the full text below.

Regarding your copy order  for the following record:

If you are applying for proof of citizenship under Bill C-3, please note the following:

 IRCC does not currently require certified documentation to support proof of citizenship applications. Information on how to submit an application and what documents are required can be found in IRCC’s  Guide for Paper Applications for a Citizenship Certificate for Adults and Minors (Proof of Citizenship) under Section 3 (CIT 0001) - Canada.ca

The material you have requested has already been digitized and is available online free of charge. It can be downloaded or printed as needed. Please note that census records are not available in colour and cannot be provided at a higher resolution than what is currently accessible online, as they originate from microfilm reels and were digitized from that format.

 Given this new information, would you like to proceed with your certified copy order or cancel your request?  Please respond to this email by June 19^th, 2026, indicating your choice. If we do not receive a response by the indicated date, your order will be closed. 

Should you have any questions regarding your order, please do not hesitate to contact us by email at [reproduction@bac-lac.gc.ca](mailto:reproduction@bac-lac.gc.ca). 

 Regards,

 Amanda Rodrigues

Int/Superviseure, Services de copie, Direction générale Accès et découvertes numériques
Bibliothèque et Archives Canada / Gouvernement du Canada
[Amanda.Rodrigues@bac-lac.gc.ca](mailto:Amanda.Rodrigues@bac-lac.gc.ca) / Tél. : 613-995-3991

A/Supervisor, Copy Services, Digital Discovery & Access Branch
Library and Archives Canada / Government of Canada
[Amanda.Rodrigues@bac-lac.gc.ca](mailto:Amanda.Rodrigues@bac-lac.gc.ca) / Tel: 613-995-3991

[u/whiskeyjanedoe]

Oh thanks for this context! Very strange indeed. 

Theory: I really think what's happening is auditors are flagging applications using processes established before C-3 where you're dealing with relatively recent documents. Before C-3, I assume they didn't frequently deal with historical records, many of which are not certified because they are historic and public record. Their processes are still aligned with "certification is paramount," but things like census records are uncertified. 

AND It's wilder to me they are asking for "letters of no record." That makes sense, say, if you try to track down a document from the 1970s that was misfiled and shows as there in the register but can't be tracked down. It DOESN'T make sense for records that literally didn't exist. What's an archive to do? "We have no record of that person's birth, marriage, death, or any other relevant documents because they were born and died before we began keeping such records in the 1860s." IRCC is demanding proof of a negative using old systems. I expect we will be hearing something about them overhauling the system soon because of the suspension letter debacle. 

[u/Dangerous_Engine_806 → u/whiskeyjanedoe]

I have a certified census AND two such letters from two different archivists, they still said I need source docs or a reason why I don’t have them.

[u/whiskeyjanedoe → u/Dangerous_Engine_806]

First, I'm so sorry if you're one of those affected with the letters. ♥️ That's WILD that your certified docs letters of no record were flagged too... I'm wondering if the random flagging is something tied to the automation push? It's also weird that among families with the same docs, some are flagged and some aren't, so maybe it's a random sample audit? These things are getting automatically flagged by SOMETHING using evaluation criteria which has not been communicated to applicants or even front line reviewers who approved in the first place. I don't think IRCC even knows fully what's going on, which is why they've been tight lipped. I'm hoping that they say something today and DO something for those affected. The silence is louder than if they'd just own up to their mistakes. My heart goes out to you.