Get Rid Off Dual Citizenship

As an Unhyphenated Canadian I agree and the only exception I would make is dual citizenship for US citizens and the reason is because the reality is Canada and United States have common goals, common ideals and most important common enemies.

IS IT TIME FOR DUAL CITIZENSHIP TO END?

-John Lawrence

September 21, 2006—Once again, Conservative MP Garth Turner has waded into controversial territory, and once again the media is there to capture it. The funny thing about it is that Garth Turner is once again correct, as well. What Mr. Turner is becoming is the means to an end. He is opening debate and dialogue on issues that are volatile but at the same time are in line with what everyday Canadians are saying.

On his blog, Mr. Turner has suggested that perhaps there are indeed two kinds of Canadian citizen. Not two kinds of Canadians, but two kinds of citizens. There are those who live here, who call this land their own, and who are helping to build its future. Then there are those who continue to assert that they are Canadian citizens while building up foreign lands and placing their loyalties with other nations, often times the very nations which they supposedly left to come to our shores.

During the Lebanon-Israel war this summer, much attention was paid to the ungrateful mass of humanity trying to exit Lebanon. While the attitude of many of these individuals did enough to sour even the most compassionate among us, learning that many of them have no plans to ever live here made the situation even more fraught with anger and disappointment.

We now have an unofficial cost to the evacuation of our 'citizens' from Lebanon. Eighty-five million dollars. I will state unequivocally that no cost is too high to rescue our own citizens when a time of war or natural calamity strikes and they need our help, but what Mr. Turner is saying, as is many of us, is that we need to perhaps redefine what it is to be a citizen and we need to rethink the way in which we allow other people to become citizens.

There are many in the press and special interest groups and, indeed, even in politics in this country who like the status-quo. Their own loyalties are not to Canada, but to their own careers and power. To that end, they have attempted to label any who dare challenge the present rules as racist or intolerant. These groups are attempting to stifle genuine and much needed debate by simply threatening to apply damaging labels to anyone who would dare have the audacity to want to correct the current untenable situation. Thus, my admiration to individuals such as Garth, who speak up because they hold convictions which they place above their political standing

Mr. Turner, as well as our prime minister, have suggested that it is time to have another look at our citizenship policy and that of dual citizenship. I agree. Being a Canadian is and should be far more than holding a piece of paper which says you are one. Our passport should be a ticket home, not an insurance policy because the nation which you now choose to reside in cannot offer you what we can.

Being a Canadian should mean that you reside here. Like those who wish to take part in our social medicine scheme, I suggest that those who wish to be called Canadians make their home here for at least 50% of every year. I suggest that they declare their income in Canada and pay taxes as such. Furthermore, their loyalties and allegiance should be to our soil, not to the nation from whence they have come.

When a nation's taxpayers (Canada's) pay $85 million dollars to rescue 'Canadians' stranded in Lebanon, only to see 7,000 of them return there shortly after, they are entitled to ask "What just happened?". It is now occurring to many of us that perhaps we have been duped. Are these citizens Canadian or Lebanese? Perhaps it is now time for them to choose, before the next conflict arises. This is not a question just aimed at those of Lebanese descent, but at all immigrants and citizens regardless of whether they are Arab, Christian or Jew; black, white, or yellow.

It has been suggested that citizenship could expire were one to reside outside of our borders for a certain and prolonged period of time. This has its problems, but not as much as our current policy. At least it is a starting point.

Now is as good a time as any other to sit down and discuss this issue. The people of Canada would willingly rescue fellow Canadians in a time of need, but they need to be true Canadians. Not Canadians simply on a piece of paper, but those who love our nation and who would die to defend it. Canadians who have placed the bulk of their eggs in our nest and who contribute to its success on an ongoing basis.

Keep at it, Garth. This kind of controversy is useful and productive