Citizenship
Presentation
My overview of the impact of citizenship policy changes under the Conservative government, delivered at the 2015 Canadian Ethnic Studies Association conference:
Citizenship – Canadian Ethnic Studies 24 Oct 2015
Articles
What the experience of Enhanced Drivers Licenses tells us about incorporation of citizenship information in provincial identity documents, should a government decide to change the Citizenship Act and move to qualified birthright citizenship (as Australia):
Birth Tourism – The Enhanced Drivers License Example
My article in iPolitics November 2013 on expected changes in the Citizenship Act as announced in the 2013 Speech from the Throne:
Beyond the specifics, the broader question of citizenship policy being faced by many governments is the balance between citizenship as “place” — assuming that citizens remain in their country of immigration — and citizenship as “status”, or a more instrumental view of citizenship as a means to secure employment and other rights.
In contrast to earlier waves of immigration — largely one-way, with limited and expensive two-way travel opportunities — today’s globalization enjoys free communications, low-cost travel, community-specific media (either Canadian or internationally-produced), all of which makes identities more fluid and complex. As governments try to reinforce a strong sense of Canadian identity, they come up against this reality — which is particularly the case for the more well-educated and trained immigrants that we aim to attract, and who tend to be more mobile.
Whether it be to pursue opportunities in their country of origin, or go back and forth to pursue business and other opportunities, citizenship policy has an impact on diaspora linkages and mobility. Make it too restrictive and the linkages may be underdeveloped — make it too easy and citizenship may be instrumental, without attachment.
Hopefully, once the draft bill is tabled, both parliamentary and public comment and discussion will engage in a broader debate about what kind of citizenship approach we want.
The citizenship review: what to watch for | iPolitics
The citizenship review: what to watch for | iPolitics (behind the paywall)
Finding the right balance in Canada’s citizenship policy
My opinion piece in Inside Policy on elements and balance in citizenship policy:
Inside Policy – February 2014 (p. 42)
My opinion piece in The Hill Times providing transition advice to a new (if a change) government:
Apart from the question of whether an incoming government will appoint a strong minister (history suggests that Jason Kenney was an exception), there is also the question of whether citizenship will be a priority in relation to immigration and refugee policy.
Whatever changes a new government chooses to pursue, comprehensive public consultations and a willingness to entertain opposition suggestions (and in the case of legislation, amendments) should be an essential part of building consensus and ongoing support for whatever approach an incoming government pursues.
Previous governments made citizenship too easy to get and too hard to lose. The Conservative government redressed that imbalance. Hopefully, a new government will be able to achieve a new balance, maintaining the increased integrity bequeathed to them, but making needed adjustments to reinforce a more inclusive and welcoming approach to citizenship.
Citizenship: Getting the Balance Right (October 2015) – paywall
Assessment of Citizenship Act Changes
Following the tabling of Minister Alexander’s proposed revisions to the Citizenship Act, my assessment of the proposed changes in New Canadian Media:
Citizenship: Finding the Right Balance
Citizens of Convenience
Some illustrative scenarios on who is and who is not a citizen of convenience in New Canadian Media:
Meet a Few “Citizens of Convenience”
Temporary Foreign Workers, Immigration and Citizenship
Understanding the linkages in New Canadian Media:
TFW’s are just one piece of immigration puzzle
Summary of C-24 Citizenship Act Committee Hearings and Witness Testimony
Citizenship bill flies under the radar, it shouldn’t | hilltimes.com
Overall take on C-24 following Parliamentary hearings and debate
The new citizenship act is efficient. Is it fair? (iPolitics pay wall)
The new citizenship act is efficient. Is it fair? (Open version)
Dual Loyalties and Dual Citizenship
Which Country Would You Die For?
Citizenship Fraud in New Canadian Media and Embassy Magazine:
Overstating “Fraud” (NCM)
Citizenship fraud: Real or overstated? (Embassy – behind pay wall)
Birth Tourism
‘Maternity tourism’: Report recommends limiting citizenship by birth (article and my Canada AM interview)
What happened to Kenney’s cracking down on birth tourism? Feds couldn’t do it alone (my article in the Hill Times – pay wall)
Birth Tourism: Rhetoric Ahead of Evidence (my article in New Canadian Media)
Multicultural Meanderings 