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But many believe the measure is fair, because when newcomers take an oath of citizenship they are vowing to uphold Canadian law, as says Ottawa-based immigration lawyer Julie Taub, and when they break the law, they break the oath.

An Angus Reid Institute poll from March 2016 had found 53 per cent of Canadians would leave the measure in place (based on a survey of 1,492 people, with a margin of error of 2.5 percentage points 19 times out of 20).

Let’s be clear. Terrorists should go to jail for a long time.

The minister said an individual whose citizenship was already revoked will have it reinstated. He did not name the individual, but the National Post had previously reported that Zakaria Amara, a ringleader of the “Toronto 18” that plotted terror in Toronto in 2006, would be regaining his citizenship under the legislation.

“When you are a Canadian you shouldn’t feel less valued just because you have dual citizenship with another country,” said Hussen, defending his government’s position. “Let’s be clear. Terrorists should go to jail for a long time,” he said, but they should do so in the Canadian justice system, and broadening criteria for revocation would set a “dangerous precedent.”

Bill C-6 passed the House of Commons without amendment. At least a few senators want revocation rules to stay, but it appears that idea won’t hold sway with the majority.

A Senate amendment more likely to pass would ensure judicial hearings for people whose citizenship is being revoked for fraud or misrepresentation — for example, if they lie about who they are, their residency or past criminal activity. But Hussen wouldn’t commit to supporting that change Wednesday.