Citizenship Act will create two classes of Canadians – Macklin, Adams and Omidvar
2014/05/23 1 Comment
Audrey Macklin, Michael Adams and Ratna Omidvar on the proposed changes to the Citizenship Act:
Some Canadians commit serious crimes. The foreign-born are no more likely than the Canadian-born to do so (some evidence suggests they are less likely to) but small numbers in each group do break the law. Nor are dual citizens more likely than mono-citizens to commit crimes. Today, citizens (including foreign-born and dual citizens) are equal before the law and are treated the same way as other Canadians if they are accused of a crime. They undergo due process and, if convicted, are punished according to the provisions of the Criminal Code of Canada. If their crimes are committed abroad, the procedures are different but their treatment by the Canadian government is identical.
Adding citizenship revocation as an extra prospective punishment for dual citizens (many of whom, but not all, are foreign-born) is tantamount to creating a second class of citizenship. This is a change that cuts to the core of what it means to be Canadian – and in order to solve what problem?
Canadian citizenship is a solution, not a problem. Canada has traditionally had exceptionally high naturalization rates; nearly nine in 10 immigrants (89 per cent) have become Canadian citizens. This pattern has been praised as a strength of our immigration program: a sign that immigrants are invested in Canada and Canada is invested in the successful integration of its immigrants.
When immigrants become citizens they can vote, stand for office (and win: in 2011, 44 of our sitting MPs were born outside the country), and generally become fully contributing, fully participating members of Canadian society. To turn citizenship from a tool of integration into a reward for good behaviour – to be revoked at the discretion of one minister on grounds of bad behavior and without due process – is to undermine the meaning and value of citizenship for all Canadians.
Citizenship Act will create two classes of Canadians – The Globe and Mail.
About Andrew
Multicultural Meanderings 
I certainly agree with this article. I have lived in Norfolk County, Ontario, all my life, “tobacco country” and now home to much more diverse agriculture. Our population has been composed of people from many ethnic backgrounds and is evident in the various halls and celebrations enjoyed. Immigrants came after both world wars and made huge contributions to Canada’s economy. While retaining their cultures and languages, they are absolutely Canadians even though most (often due to Canada’s agreements with other nations) have always had dual citizenship, whether they are conscious of it or not.
This area has historically elected a Conservative MP, the very party that now proposes to make them, as holders of dual citizenship, into some sort of second-class citizens with a citizenship that will not be as secure as the first-class, single citizenship ones. Revocation would, legally through Bill C-24, apparently the decision of a politician without a judicial process.
Citizenship is so important: I hope this bill will not be pushed through without serious re-consideration of this plan for revocation.