A summary by Lester Tong The proposed Citizenship Act, or Bill C-24, rather than keep the Canadian citizenship’s value, has the potential to actually make its value more than it is at this moment, mainly due to the extension of time required as a permanent resident of Canada from three years to four. This in turn would create an even larger gap between citizens and those seeking citizenship. If this law is passed, those seeking a Canadian citizenship will have a much harder time getting it, especially for students and other temporary residents. This is because receiving partial credit in permanent residency from temporary residency is no longer available under the new legislation. Without that partial credit, it would require those already living under temporary residency status to apply for permanent residency, wait approximately a year for that application to process, and then begin the four years for a citizenship, totaling around eight years or so if one was a student in a three-year Master’s degree program. There are also the delays for the application for citizenship after fulfilling the permanent residency requirement to consider, which average at approximately two years, meaning that it takes ten to twelve years for someone to become a Canadian citizen and receive the perks that come with it. However, during those ten to twelve years, they do not have those benefits that come with citizenship, yet they are paying taxes. This makes integration difficult, and gives rise to a second class of citizens in Canada. Furthering the creation of – or making more prominent – a second class of citizens is Bill C-24’s citizenship revocation available for use on those with dual citizenships, effectively singling out immigrants and making their status in the country lesser than one born here. While it is the case that this is reserved for those that have committed a serious crime, it is still concerning that citizenship is used as a reward for being on the right side of the law and that it can be taken away from those that want to live in and be part of this country. Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/citizenship-act-will-create-two-classes-of-canadians/article18778296/
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The proposed Citizenship Act protects the value of citizen
By Paralegal student
The proposed Citizenship Act introduced by the Federal Government that protects the value of citizenship. However, people are concerned about the proposed new act that it makes harder process than existing process and will create two classes of citizen.
The proposed Act requires for residency in Canada four years instead of three and also process period. Somehow needs to spend around 6 years for citizenship. Then, as a Canadian would be eligible for vote and collect taxes. That is too bad for Canada and its citizen. Moreover, if someone stays outside the country for Canadian employer under new rules whatever time spends outside the country will delay the eligibility for citizenship and also affect the permanent residency.
The researcher found that as soon as people get citizenship, they invest themselves in Canadian societies. Nearly 89% of people of Canadian are immigrant and they became a Canadian citizen by naturalization and they successfully invested themselves in Canadian societies and contributed in Canadian economy.
One of the harder options Bill C 24 that proposed act grants federal immigration minister to revoke the citizenship for misuse and major crimes, including terrorism. The proposed act imposes extra punishment for dual citizen for involving crimes. But all Canadians are equal in law and all treated the same way.
As an immigrant Canadian, we all are equal and equally reserve all rights who born in Canada. The government should protect the value of Canadian citizenship as a Canadians not to create classes of Canadians.
Sajal Chowdhury
Government position about immigration need to be clear for all, new immigrants and the potential ones. Obviously the Canadian government has the right to change the rules whenever they want, for the good of the country and the Canadians, but this kind of “back and forth†with emigration rules can result in frustration feelings for the newcomers to the country.
The long and tedious process may become in an obstacle for the immigrants in Canada seeking the Canadian citizenship and build a new life in this country. These possible changes could be unfair for people who reside in Canada, for whom the years of residence in this country not going to be “important†in terms of the time that they need to have in Canada to apply for the citizenship. Canada is in a critical time, in which has to decide if they want to receive immigrants or not, and if they want to be more restrictive about the requirements to get a permanent resident ad eventually a citizenship, also they need a special coordination with provincial governments, because each one has different needs respect with immigrants.