Virtual citizenship ceremonies under review as petition calls on government to cut back
The federal government says it is weighing its options about whether to discontinue virtual citizenship ceremonies, as it faces criticism from well-known Canadians who have presided over the classic, in-person sessions for years, as well as more than 1,500 people who have signed a petition to Parliament urging Ottawa to pull the plug.
![Virtual citizenship ceremonies under review as petition calls on government to cut back](https://i.cbc.ca/1.5320045.1696626250!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_620/citizenship-certificate-generic.jpg)
![A new Canadian holds a Canadian flag, their citizenship certificate and a letter signed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as they sing O Canada after becoming a Canadian citizen, during a Canada Day citizenship ceremony in West Vancouver on Monday, July 1, 2019. A new Canadian holds a flag, their citizenship certificate and a letter signed by Prime Minister Trudeau.](https://i.cbc.ca/1.5320045.1696626250!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/16x9_620/citizenship-certificate-generic.jpg)
The federal government says it is weighing its options about whether to discontinue virtual citizenship ceremonies, as it faces criticism from well-known Canadians who have presided over the classic, in-person sessions for years, as well as more than 1,500 people who have signed a petition to Parliament urging Ottawa to pull the plug.