Received the email back from Senator Black
Thank you for taking the time to write Senator Doug Black your concerns and comments on Bill C-6: An Act to amend the Citizenship Act and to make consequential amendments to another Act. As an elected-Senator from Alberta, he values the opinions and views of Albertans and Canadians on matters of importance.
Senator Black supports Bill C-6 for two reasons. The first reason is that it is safer for Canadians to keep convicted terrorists in a secure Canadian prison rather than revoking their Canadian citizenship and sending them back to their home country. Countries that have an increased risk of terrorist activity tend to have trouble maintaining law and order within their borders and if a convicted terrorist were to be reintroduced into such a chaotic environment there is an increased risk for Canadians, and the people in their home country, for a repeat offence.
The second reason is that Bill C-6 makes it easier for people to become new Canadians and integrate into Canadian society. If Canada is to grow and prosper we will need to continue to attract new Canadians. Many immigrants on the path to citizenship experience measures from our immigration system that are overly bureaucratic with no clear benefit to the broader Canadian security. Unnecessary measures should be removed for the benefit of all Canadians.
Senator Black also supports the recent amendment moved by Senator McCoy to restore due process for Canadians facing loss of citizenship for alleged fraud or misrepresentation. This would add fundamental due process safeguards including the full right to access the Federal Court without leave, or permission, for a final revocation decision to Bill C-6.
Quick Facts:
· Canadian law has allowed citizenship revocation on grounds of fraud or false representation since 1947. This is unchanged by Bill C-6 and the amendment.
· From 1988 to December 31, 2016, under the Governor In Council revocation model, there were 167 revocation decisions (IRCC statistics).
· From May 28, 2015 to December 31, 2016, under the Minister’s delegate revocation model, there were 235 revocation decisions (IRCC statistics).
· There is currently a case awaiting decision by the Federal Court on the constitutionality of the current Minister’s delegate revocation model. An earlier Federal Court decision granted a stay of some citizenship revocation proceedings (Monla v Canada (2016 FC 44)).
To stay current on the status and debates on Bill and legislative matters before Parliament, please visit LEGISinfo at www.parl.gc.ca/LEGISinfo. To stay up to date with the Senator’s work, click here to subscribe to our newsletter and follow him on Twitter @DougBlackAB.
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Patrick D. Cousineau
Director
Office of the Honourable Doug Black, Q.C., Senator (Alberta)
The Senate of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A4
613-996-8757 | Fax 613-996-8862 | Toll free 1-800-267-7362
www.dougBLACK.ca
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