[Scape]

We need a debate on whether citizenship is more than a passport

$1:

What does it mean to be Canadian? Is it an accident of geography or birth? Or is it more than that; does it demand more of us than simply showing up at the passport office when we want to leave?

Citizenship is "an act of imagination," Michael Ignatieff writes in his book True Patriot Love. It begins with personal experience. But it transcends that into an imagining of what the rest of the country is like and a reasoning about what it is that binds all of us together.

"We engage in this act of imagination because we need to," he writes. "The lives we live alone do not make sense to us unless we share some public dimension with others. We need a public life in common, some set of reference points and allegiances to give us a way to relate to the strangers among whom we live ... You love a country because it gives you the possibility of feeling at home."

Of course, the Liberal leader's own patriotism has been questioned by the Conservatives since he has spent most of his working life abroad.

And being here seems to be what's behind the recent amendments to the Citizenship Act, which limits citizenship to only one generation born abroad. That means if you were born abroad, your children born in a foreign land after April 17, 2009, will not be Canadian.

Rudyard Griffiths is among those who argue that citizenship has been devalued and diminished over the years.

From his perch as founder and former executive director of the Dominion Institute, he argues that Canadians are squandering their birthright because they have made it easier for people to gain and retain citizenship and because they are largely ignorant about Canada and its history.

In his book, Who Are We? A Citizen's Manifesto, he argues that it's time to restore a shared vision of Canada and demand that citizens make a greater commitment to the country.

Like the recent amendments, Griffiths targets the estimated 2.6 million Canadians who live overseas. Many of them are citizens of convenience because it's estimated that as many as one in three new Canadians go home after they've sworn allegiance to queen and country.

These expatriates don't pay taxes. Yet after a six-month residency, they get all of the benefits of citizenship including health care and education.

Griffiths argues that's not right. However, Griffiths might be out of step with Canadians.

A recent poll, part of the Canada's World project, found two-thirds of Canadians believe that it's a good thing that nearly 3 million Canadians live abroad.

Ninety-two per cent supported the idea of Canadians volunteering abroad with non-governmental organizations and nearly three-quarters support the idea of Canadians studying and working overseas for Canadian companies.

Interestingly, foreign-born Canadians are less likely to see others living outside the country as a positive.

Among the positives identified by respondents about why Canadians should live and work abroad is that they are good ambassadors, they bring home valuable experiences and they help strengthen Canada's position in the world. But under the Conservatives' revised Citizenship Act, future generations of children born to Canadians living overseas have literally been set adrift even though they might have grown up speaking one or both of Canada's official languages, share the country's value and culture and have deep family roots in Canada.

Rather than cutting loose well-travelled, often multilingual children and grandchildren of expatriate Canadians, the public interest might better be served by encouraging them to come home because -- in a recent interview with Maclean's - Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney reiterated his belief that we need to maintain the target of 250,000 new immigrants each year. Why Kenney seems more intent on attracting foreigners than welcoming home those with roots in this country isn't clear. Kenney refused requests for an interview.

However, his spokesperson, Danielle Norris, says the value of citizenship increases if Canadians are more closely connected to their country.

Griffiths also argues that Canada should require that only immigrants should be allowed to hold two passports.

Ironically, Griffiths is among the 3.5 million Canadians with two or more passports. He applied for and received dual citizenship in his 20s. Little more than a decade after acquiring a British passport, Griffiths is now trying to surrender it.

"Having two passports made me appreciate that, for newcomers, a secondary citizenship is not simply an economic passport. Having that passport is a way to keep an emotional bond to a people and place," he said in an interview.

But it was the "mental gymnastics of dual citizenship" that was one of the factors that drove him to write the book.

What's disturbing in Griffiths's book and in the Dominion Institute's research is the lack of civic literacy. For example, one in four Canadians ages 18 to 24 could not identify the date of Confederation. Less than half knew the name of Canada's first prime minister. And, of course, the number of eligible voters who don't even bother to vote is growing.

Griffiths proposes both mandatory voting and mandatory national service either in the military or a revitalized Katimavik program or a domestic version of Canadian University Students Overseas.

Both proposals are highly controversial, but that's what's needed in this country - controversy to spur a debate about citizenship.

We need to talk about what being a citizen means not in terms of our rights or discrete community interests. We need to talk as individuals who choose Canada as our home, about our values, our hopes for the future and our responsibilities and obligations to this country.

[KyleEverett]

I know I'm Canadian simply cause of the pangs of nostalgia I got when I came for a cousin's wedding. Just driving along the highway I felt a great sense of homeness. I haven't lived in Canada since I was seven, lol. I had a great sense of pride walking around Parliament in Ottawa looking at the statues of significant figures.

I intend to get my dual citizenship in the states simply cause it provides more options then just one citizenship. I get it from birthright from my mother so it is a bit easier for me. I may well come back to my homeland if life directs me that way.

[MacDonaill]

Ignatieff was right when he said that patriotism is an act of imagination. You have to have a mental image of your country to know why you love it and what you love about it, and also what you don't love so much about it.

As for dual citizenship, I think it should probably be allowed but I wouldn't be devastated if it weren't. I have two passports and I would give up the other one in a heartbeat if forced to choose.

As for mandatory national service, I think it is an excellent idea, and I've been saying so for a number of years.

[Brenda]

$1:

As for dual citizenship, I think it should probably be allowed but I wouldn't be devastated if it weren't. I have two passports and I would give up the other one in a heartbeat if forced to choose.

I don't have a Canadian, and I don't think I will get it either. Reason? The Netherlands doesn't allow dual citizenship, so I have to give it up. I am not ready to do that (at least not yet...). If The Netherlands allowed dual citizenship, I would not hesitate to obtain Canadian citizenship.

[RoyalHighlander]

Being a Canadain.. mean living a good life in a mostly cleaN COUNTRY.. a place where you can criticize your govt ond not worry about being taken away in the middle of the night by jack boot wearing cops.. A place where you can worship in the manner of your choosing.. A place you can pick up and drive across country and not have to get a travel permit.. a placxe where yopu can live where ever you darn well fell likme ti.. A place that for the most part takes care of our old..being a Canadian is when you are in a foriegn country and a person comes up to you and tells you how luckey you are to be from Canada.. I get a lump in my throat when ever I hear our national anthem played.. Its all this and more...

[EyeBrock]

I didn't have to give up my British citizenship, I just haven't applied for a UK passport. I'm a Canadian and that's the only passport I need.

When I went back to the UK in 2007 the Immigration Jobsworth asked me my citizenship, I told him "Canadian".
He said I sounded like I came from Manchester. I told him I was from Manchester but that I was now a Canadian. He gave me a look, checked my nice dark blue passport and waved me through.

[Wada]

Good one on ya!

[Terence]

Canada is about compromise and polite exchanges, free from ideological propaganda.

(Which is why most Canadians ignore the anti-canadian neocons and socialists, equally)

[EyeBrock]

Anti-Canadian neo-cons? Like who?

And ideology has always been part of Canada politically. From the UEL's to the War of 1812, to the Rebellions of 1837, to Responsible Government, to Confederation, to the Boer War, to the Great War and the conscription crises, to the Statute of Westminster, to World War 2, to the quiet revolution, the FLQ and multiculturism.

Plenty of ideology there.

[Terence]

Neo cons are decended from a limited offshoot of anti Communists within the Democrats, who infiltrated the Republican party after Jack Kennedy was killed, thus destroying the old Republican foundations of the party.

The neo-cons are anti Conservative, The only prominent traditional holdout seems to be Pat Buchanan and maybe Lou Dobbs. Bluedog democrats are more like traditional republicans than Irving Kristol's bastardization.

Canada's Conservative history is Sir John A MacDonald, Stephen Leacock, George Grant (Iggy's blood uncle )

Read Lament for a Nation and show me how today's Canadian Conservative Party is in any way connected to him.

Back to the takeover south of the border, how does the Iraq War measure up to the no foreign entanglements doctrine?

neo-cons are not real conservatives.

[Terence]

"And ideology has always been part of Canada politically."


An absolute fallacy.
Read the greatest Canadian bigraphy ever written. Donald Creighton's Two volume: The Young Politician & The Old Chieftain on Sir John A. MacDonald

MacDonald's ability to negotiate, work with opponents for a greater good, represent CANADIANS over all other interests, and his vision of our future is as great as George Washington's ability to lead and respective belief in his people.

[EyeBrock]

Er, that's just MacDonald. What about the other 400 years of our history?

[ShepherdsDog]

What does it mean to be Canadian......hmmm. I usually ask twice politely, and then I punch.

[Terence]

just MacDonald?

Canada without MacDonald wouldn't have happened. Nova Scotia wouldn't have joined and afterwards it was the decency of MacDonald and his fair treatment that ended the first Separatist movement in Canada (The Howe led Bloc-Nova Scotia - 36/38 members were separatists)

It like America without Washington's leadership. They wouldn't have gained Independence for a while longer.

[EyeBrock]

Yawn, read the history. It would have happened. There was more on the go in 1864-65 than MacDonald.