Oath to the Queen

[Keylime]

As US citizens who are longtime permanent residents of Canada, my wife and I have applied for Canadian citizenship, intending to be dual citizens. Although we have a commitment to Canada, the history of our native country regarding royalty makes it difficult to swear loyalty to the Queen and her heirs, however ceremonial their role may be. Is there any way of attaining Canadian citizenship without bringing the Queen into it?

 

[screech339]

As US citizens who are longtime permanent residents of Canada, my wife and I have applied for Canadian citizenship, intending to be dual citizens. Although we have a commitment to Canada, the history of our native country regarding royalty makes it difficult to swear loyalty to the Queen and her heirs, however ceremonial their role may be. Is there any way of attaining Canadian citizenship without bringing the Queen into it?

No you won't be able to. There was a challenge in the court. Three people challenged it and they lost.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/supreme-court-wont-hear-oath-to-queen-challenge/article23211504/

 

[jrjayl]

As US citizens who are longtime permanent residents of Canada, my wife and I have applied for Canadian citizenship, intending to be dual citizens. Although we have a commitment to Canada, the history of our native country regarding royalty makes it difficult to swear loyalty to the Queen and her heirs, however ceremonial their role may be. Is there any way of attaining Canadian citizenship without bringing the Queen into it?

Answer is, no, oath of loyalty to the Queen and her heirs must be taken to become a Canadian citizen.
At the ceremony, a lot of staffs will walk around to make sure all candidates repeat the oath with the judge.

Refer here to a recent news about the topic:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/canada/11438810/Canadian-citizenship-oath-to-Queen-to-remain-law.html

 

[wilbur]

According to the Discover Canada guide the Oath is as follows:

"I swear (or affirm) that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, Her Heirs and Successors, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of Canada and fulfil my duties as a Canadian citizen."

And as far as I know, the officers check that you repeat that during the ceremony, if you fail to do so, you will not become Canadian Citizen.

However, Canada is defined to be a Constitutional Monarchy and that will no change, if that concept doesn't fit your beliefs, probably getting Canadian Citizenship is not for you.

My 2 cents...

 

[agp2176]

Personally I don't understand what they issue is here. I love this country, I love all that the nation stands for, and will be proud to stand there and swear that oath to our head of state. This nation, Canada, has been good enough to grant me the privilege of being one of its people, equal to one born here, and for that, I will pledge my loyalty

Tony

 

[scylla]

As US citizens who are longtime permanent residents of Canada, my wife and I have applied for Canadian citizenship, intending to be dual citizens. Although we have a commitment to Canada, the history of our native country regarding royalty makes it difficult to swear loyalty to the Queen and her heirs, however ceremonial their role may be. Is there any way of attaining Canadian citizenship without bringing the Queen into it?

I can confirm that officers walk around the room while the oath is being said to make sure everyone says the entire thing (including the Queen part). I watched it happen. There's no getting around it - and if you don't say the entire oath they can deny your citizenship. Someone in my husband's oath group got into trouble for not saying the full oath. They held back her certificate (while they gave all others out very publicly) - and told her she needed to wait until the ceremony was complete at which point they would talk to her about the situation and determine whether she would be granted citizenship. (I was close enough to the back to hear this drama - unfortunately I have no idea how it ended because they dealt with it behind closed doors.)

I know this isn't the answer you were probably looking for - but you'll just need to suck up and say the full oath - and then find a way to laugh about it later. For what it's worth - my husband is American too. And he never imagined in his life-time that he would ever be swearing an oath to the British monarchy. Of course the other option is to remain PRs and forget about citizenship. You are certainly free do that if it bothers you that much.

 

[cec2011]

Personally I don't understand what they issue is here. I love this country, I love all that the nation stands for, and will be proud to stand there and swear that oath to our head of state. This nation, Canada, has been good enough to grant me the privilege of being one of its people, equal to one born here, and for that, I will pledge my loyalty

Tony

I could not echo this any louder!

 

[scylla]

I honestly think of this as a "first world problem". If this is one of the biggest problems in your life - then you have a pretty great life. There are plenty of people who would be willing to trade places with you at the drop of a hat so that you can find out what real problems are all about.

Again, there is always the option of remaining a PR if it's really that big an issue... No one is forcing anyone into citizenship.

 

[bambino]

As US citizens who are longtime permanent residents of Canada, my wife and I have applied for Canadian citizenship, intending to be dual citizens. Although we have a commitment to Canada, the history of our native country regarding royalty makes it difficult to swear loyalty to the Queen and her heirs, however ceremonial their role may be. Is there any way of attaining Canadian citizenship without bringing the Queen into it?

I, for one, totally hear you. I personally held my nose and said the words. I tried to convince myself (and we are told) that the oath is really about Canada and its institutions/history that Aunt Lizzie embodies.

I find the notion of hereditary monarchy abhorrent. Just hope that by the time you get to say the oath it won't be that blankely blank Charles that occupies the throne. ;D

By the way, there are plenty of native-born Canadians who feel the same way, so we are in good company.

 

[USNick]

And I am another US citizen (hopefully on my way to becoming a proud dual Canadian citizen as well) who also understands what you're saying. It may be a "first world problem," and it may only be concerned with symbolism, but I happen to think it's a credit to you (and, humbly, therefore me) that you're taking the oath and citizenship seriously and not as mere words on the way to another passport.

My life first drew me to Canada almost fifteen years ago. I didn't decide to become a PR for almost another 10 years, because I wanted to be sure that I wanted to make Canada my home, rather than just my "home now." And I decided to apply for citizenship only after becoming sure that I wanted to participate more fully in the history of this country (which wasn't a hard realization, after becoming a PR). Still, our American history is one in which our forefathers fought for independence from the very monarchy to which I am now intending to swear allegiance. And even though it wasn't even technically my forefathers (my family came as immigrants to the US in the 19th century), I still take that history very seriously...as I do the history of this country, Canada, that I want to become a part of. I will still take he oath to the Queen, if and when I get the chance. Because that is the responsibility of a Canadian. But I still have a lot of thinking to do about the subject before I can do it with the clear conscience that I want to have when I take it.

 

[keesio]

USNick - we have similar stories. I also first came to Canada, from the US, almost 15 years ago and I didn't become a PR until over 8 years later because I too wanted to be sure that I wanted to make Canada my permanent home before becoming a PR. And I went for Citizenship because I was fully committed to Canada and felt "Canadian", though I started to feel that way when I applied for PR.

However I didn't have as much reservations as you do about swearing the oath to the Queen. I long understood Canada's ties to the crown and came to terms with it long ago. Also, it is a different time now and the US and UK are long-time close allies and the British Monarchy is quite popular in the US (especially Will & Kate) so it is not exactly swearing an oath to a monarchy that the US still has bad feelings about. I gave my oath and did not have any issue with it.

 

[cprak0]

My problem here with the oath to a symbolic "queen"/ "Crown" is that native Canadian born do not have to take any such oath.

And I wonder how taking the Oath makes the CIC sure that the new Canadians have understood what it means to be a Canadian?!
It's high time that Canada becomes a true republic and yet symbolically accept that the King and Queen may live for EVER where ever they are!!

 

[chakrab]

My problem here with the oath to a symbolic "queen"/ "Crown" is that native Canadian born do not have to take any such oath.

And I wonder how taking the Oath makes the CIC sure that the new Canadians have understood what it means to be a Canadian?!
It's high time that Canada becomes a true republic and yet symbolically accept that the King and Queen may live for EVER where ever they are!!

a native canadian also doesn't need to know english or french or know any of the provinces to be a citizen. that argument is made multiple times and is ridiculous every time.

even in the US oath, a new citizen promises to take up arms to fight for the country but i know plenty of people who wouldn't even care to do the same.

 

[ERJOPA]

I, too, am a US citizen. I would not have any problem with the oath and will proudly take it when I do get to take the oath.
This is also because, for me, Canadian citizenship will restore part of family. My Grandfather grew up in Quebec, but had to move with his family to Oregon when his dad died (long story). He was a dual citizen himself and longed to be home in Quebec.

Unlike most US citizens, swearing an oath to the Queen is not a big deal. She's really a cute elderly statesperson.

 

[dpenabill]

Another still American citizen here . . . one who was once dismayed when the job offer I accepted with a corporation purporting to be a "cooperative" turned out to be wholly owned by a British Lord and would have promptly left that employment but for the fact it was a rough patch in my life and I had a family depending on me.

But over the decades since I have learned more about the world, about tradition and the importance of what genuinely inspires. And more about how shallow and hollow a lot of the rhetoric about freedom and independence tends to be, especially in the U.S.

By the time I became a PR my understanding and sentiments had evolved greatly, and there was absolutely no hesitation, no reluctance to swear allegiance to Canada's Queen when the time came, and I did so with emphasis, with heartfelt sincerity, and with a sense of commitment I had long ago lost for the land in which I was born.

Canada is far from a perfect place or society. The truth and reconciliation report is a recent reminder of how profoundly off course even good intentions can go (especially when exploited by those without good intentions). But for me this is the place, my home, and while I still have a driving compulsion to support and unite the proletariat around the world, I better understand how things are arranged in this world and the importance of a Sovereignty I can affirm allegiance to. I often wear my Maple Leaf pin, given to me at my oath ceremony, so there is no doubt about my loyalties. Hardly a day goes by without reminding myself how grateful I am that this great country took me in, gave me a home, and has made me one of them.