Dual
Citizenship
By:
Raymonde Folco, Liberal Critic for Citizenship and Immigration
Although
the federal government has not specifically said it is looking into
revoking dual citizenship, a spokeswoman in the office of the Minister of
Citizenship and Immigration recently told the Globe and Mail that a review
is under way.
“We
will be reviewing the rights and responsibilities of citizenship in the
upcoming months,” said Pema Lhalungpa, in minister Monte Solberg's
office.
Ensuring
Canada remains a destination of choice for immigrants requires policies
that recognize the modern realities of immigration.
Immigrants seek our opportunities, our security and our way of
life. We, in turn, welcome
them, recognizing the culture and diversity they bring to our communities,
and the expertise and energy they bring to our economy. In one very important way, Canada’s citizenship laws
acknowledge that reality.
Canada
is one of 59 countries in the world which recognize dual citizenship. In
essence, dual citizenship allows new Canadians the right to retain the
citizenship of both this and their mother country.
Similarly, Canadian citizens residing beyond our borders are not
required to relinquish their Canadian citizenship in exchange for the
citizenship of their new home.
Dual
citizenship is one of the many reasons Canada remains a model for the
international community. It affords Canadians the right to travel and live
abroad, in order to share the Canadian experience with the international
community. Not only do they have an opportunity to explore the world, but
the skills and knowledge that they gain can be brought back and shared
with their fellow Canadians.
Though
it is certainly a progressive and open approach to citizenship, it is also
a reflection of the new global community.
The
fact is, reversing this policy and forcing new Canadians to renounce the
citizenship of their previous country, or forcing Canadians to renounce
their citizenship when they decide to live abroad, would make Canada a
less attractive choice for immigrants.
This would impede Canada’s ability to attract those immigrants we
need to stimulate population growth and expand our economy.
The
fact remains that a Canadian citizen is a Canadian citizen, regardless of
where they are from, or where they live.
As
such, the Liberal Party of Canada does not support any action which seeks
to undermine this right to citizenship, simply because someone chooses to
live abroad. Further, we do not believe that new Canadians should be
forced to abandon their connection to their country of origin in order to
enjoy the same rights and responsibilities afforded to Canadian-born
citizens. With this
conviction comes the understanding that the Canadian government has an
obligation to protect its citizens abroad, particularly in instances of
humanitarian conflict or crisis – as witnessed this summer during the
conflict in southern Lebanon, and last year during the tsunami in South
East Asia, in the United States in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and the
earthquake in Pakistan and India.
If
the Conservative government truly believes in standing up for Canada, it
will unequivocally defend our current citizenship laws, and the rights of
our citizens – both in and outside our borders. Canadians should expect
nothing less.
