The Honourable Minister Alexander made the following statement in a press release as a justification/rationale to increasing the eligibility period
"That means making sure that people who are becoming citizens have really lived here, and have lived here for enough time to really understand what citizenship is about, what the country is about."
Eliminating the time spent in Canada before becoming Canadian contradicts the above statement. It's also devalues the time spent in Canada before becoming PR, undermining that time period and implying that time spent pre-permanent residency cannot account for an "individual having really lived here, and for enough time for him/her to understand what citizenship is about, and what the country is about."
I beg to differ Minister Alexander, I came here when I was 17, now I am 29 yrs old. I have spent 11 years in Canada and 9 of those 11 years were pre-permanent residency years. I have established myself in Canada and contributed my quota to the Canadian economy through gainful employment and experience.
Most importantly, having spent the ages 17 – present (29yrs), in Canada, representing the entirety of my adult life, Canada represents the institution of home in my life as evident in my friends, interests, values, habits and culture.
This is a summary of my story, I am sure many of you have similar or more compelling stories to tell. I have written my MP and I suggest you all should do the same. I will support any movement to address that aspect of the bill.
That said, I am for reform and I think majority of the bill is progressive and could possibly have positive effects on future applicants and the integrity of the citizenship process.
cheers!