Sign petition: Citizenship Act Bill C-24 discrimination

[informatics]

I am suprprised ,why people are not taking up the "intent to reside" clause seriously .It appears to be the most hurting clause ,just like taking back your freedom ,as compared to other Canadians.Its not that I am going to leave Canada after getting citizenship but government must remember that we are immigrants ,we have got our families living outside Canada (and ironically which are not allowed to come to Canada in majority of situations).

It will be just like having a second class citizenship as compared to fellow Canadians .Kindly please do highlight this issue as well in your petitions and writings to your MPs.

Thanks

 

[sashali78]

I am suprprised ,why people are not taking up the "intent to reside" clause seriously .It appears to be the most hurting clause ,just like taking back your freedom ,as compared to other Canadians.Its not that I am going to leave Canada after getting citizenship but government must remember that we are immigrants ,we have got our families living outside Canada (and ironically which are not allowed to come to Canada in majority of situations).

It will be just like having a second class citizenship as compared to fellow Canadians .Kindly please do highlight this issue as well in your petitions and writings to your MPs.

Thanks

In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with the "intent to reside" amendment. First, I do believe that Citizenship should be granted only to those who do intent to reside in Canada. Secondly, I do not believe that this amendment is enforceable, which makes even less of a clause to object it.
On the other hand, the abolishment of pre-PR time credit for residency requirements is clearly a major slap in the face of many former foreign workers and students. Unlike most new immigrants, former foreign workers and students have spent the most time in Canada, have contributed the most in economic terms. Nevertheless it is the group which will be affected twice as hard as the others by the new bill. This amendment is totally contrary to Minister's proclamations of strengthening Canadian ties and value of Canadian citizenship.
That's why I believe we should fight it in full force:

https://www.change.org/en-CA/petitions/canada-parliament-do-not-allow-discrimination-of-former-foreign-workers-and-students-by-new-canadian-citizenship-bill-c-24

 

[CitizenshipAct]

We are running a page

facebook.com/citizenshipactcanada

Our aim is to focus on the parts of the bill that will harm Canada in the long run. Most significantly on bringing back segment 5 (1) (i) of the old Act. This is what your petition is aimed to get. Join our page and ask your friends to join and promote your activities.

 

[sashali78]

We are running a page

facebook.com/citizenshipactcanada

Our aim is to focus on the parts of the bill that will harm Canada in the long run. Most significantly on bringing back segment 5 (1) (i) of the old Act. This is what your petition is aimed to get. Join our page and ask your friends to join and promote your activities.

Of course. May I ask you put the petition on your page as well? Change.ORG is a recognizable platform for Media and MP's and having few thousand of authentic signatures will sure help drive a change.

 

[FAS]

I agree with informatics that intent to reside is a serious issue, they can start tracking dual citizens and with new proposed power to the immigration ministry they can then start revoking it. Again we do intent to stay but may have to travel long term to attend family matters back home or just better opportunities elsewhere. Let's add this in current petitions or start new petition for this. FAS.

 

[punk]

I am afraid Scylla is right. Although it might be technically possible, I feel it would be unfair to change or expand the a major subject in a petition.

Why is every one coming up with their own petition. Divided we fall. come with one !

 

[links18]

Why is every one coming up with their own petition. Divided we fall. come with one !

Pitfalls of internet activism......

 

[glass77]

Re: Citizenship Act Bill C-24 discrimination of former foreign workers and students

why is it Those granted PR through the refugee stream (might be the one hardest hit if this amendment goes through).

Can you please explain this one.r
The four major groups that will get affected the most by this provision (eliminating non-PR days for citizenship purposes
):

1. Former foreign workers who applied under:
- CEC (1 year working full-time in Canada + 1 year of processing times)
- FSW Stream 2 (2 - 3 years processing times while in Canada)
- MI1 FSW Stream 3 (1 year to qualify + 3 years for processing times; this stream is notorious for being slow)
- PNP (2 years processing times from applying for nomination to the point of grant of permanent residency)
- LCP (as scylla said, 2 years to qualify + 4 years of processing times)

2. Former international students who applied under:
- FSW PhD stream (2 years in a Canadian PhD program to qualify + 2 years of processing times)
- MI1 FSW Stream 3 (1 year to qualify + about 3 years of processing times; all those months likely will be spent in Canada)
- PNP (some provinces offer international graduate streams for Master's and PhD graduates, or Bachelor's graduates with job offer: this could take 2 years: 6 months for nomination + about 1.5 years of PR processing times)

3. Spouses or partners of Canadian citizens or PR who applied inland under the family class (compared to economic classes, family class seems to get processed much faster, but as noted by someone else here, some of these spouses were students or foreign workers before they became PR, and all those years before PR will count for nothing for citizenship purposes)

4. Those granted PR through the refugee stream (might be the one hardest hit if this amendment goes through).

Again, while the government owes us no explanation and we have to be grateful that we were granted PR at all, I would still like to ask once again (since we have the rights to ask whatever questions we want), in what way would counting these pre-PR days cheapen the value of Canadian citizenship?
[/quote]

 

[Newbie2014]

Re: Citizenship Act Bill C-24 discrimination of former foreign workers and students

I actually disagree with your last statement. While granting PR is indeed in total Government's discretion and not to be argued, the Citizenship is totally a different issue. As Canadian Permanent Resident you are protected under Canadian Charter of Rights and should have a clear path to Citizenship. This path should not to be played with by Government as they see fit for the moment. The way I see it, it is Government's way to reduce the future backlog for "cheap". After all , who is going to fight for the rights and benefits of the temporary residents? It is now our right and duty to beg the difference.

"Discrimination" is a strong word. I guess you chose it for that reason -- it is very dramatic and carries alot of emotion. I don't think it is appropriate in the circumstances. Is the legislation unfair? Maybe. Discriminatory? Not when you consider that the term "discrimination" is commonly associated with prejudicial treatment on the grounds of race, age, or sex.

Citizenship is not guaranteed by the Charter of Rights. The government can change whatever it wants with regards to the citizenship qualification process. What use is a legislature that cannot change legislations? The government has now decided that it has been handing out citizenships too easily. Foreign students who came here to study were flying back home with their degree certificate, as well as a citizenship certificate (for not too much more effort, what with the pre-PR time reducing their time to citizenship). Well, the government's not feeling generous any more.

Mind you, the government did not put you at a disadvantage (i.e., discrimination). They merely eliminated an advantage that you previously enjoyed. It's a subtle difference.
Advantage 1: As foreign students, you automatically enjoyed the ability to become PRs (which you likely would not have qualified for had you applied directly while abroad, due to your lack of experience).
Advantage 2: Your time as a foreign student was counted towards your citizenship time quota.
They removed the latter benefit, but you still get to enjoy the former. Thus there is hardly grounds for you to claim "discrimination".

 

[Newbie2014]

Re: Citizenship Act Bill C-24 discrimination of former foreign workers and students

I would. But I would appreciate if you can refer only to that part which talks about abolishing of counting temporary residence towards citizenship residency requirements. I do agree with the majority of the other bill amendments.

Yes, Zardoz, please don't refer to the other parts of the bill which do not personally affect sashali78.

 

[Newbie2014]

It is illogical to eliminate pre-PR time from consideration because this time in Canada is physical presence and evidence of integration into society--precisely what strengthening the citizenship act is about.

I think the bigger picture of the legislation is that the government wants the citizenship process to be a harder, and more painful, process. That is what they mean by "strengthening its value". They don't want it to be an easy process for anyone.

By "painful" I mean that they want to create obstacles that are more difficult for fraudsters to overcome. Since the time investment is now so extensive, they hope to scare away those applicants who are looking to obtain a quick citizenship of convenience.

And, yes, they want you to pay into the system while you wait for your citizenship -- hence the new requirement for tax returns. (I'm sure at some point in the future, they will link directly to the CRA's systems, just like they now do to the CBSA's systems.)

 

[zardoz]

Re: Citizenship Act Bill C-24 discrimination of former foreign workers and students

Yes, Zardoz, please don't refer to the other parts of the bill which do not personally affect sashali78.

I have to assume that this was not a joke post, as there was no smiley. Was it?

 

[FL1040]

I think the bigger picture of the legislation is that the government wants the citizenship process to be a harder, and more painful, process. That is what they mean by "strengthening its value". They don't want it to be an easy process for anyone.

By "painful" I mean that they want to create obstacles that are more difficult for fraudsters to overcome. Since the time investment is now so extensive, they hope to scare away those applicants who are looking to obtain a quick citizenship of convenience.

And, yes, they want you to pay into the system while you wait for your citizenship -- hence the new requirement for tax returns. (I'm sure at some point in the future, they will link directly to the CRA's systems, just like they now do to the CBSA's systems.)

+1

I don't understand the whining about people paying taxes while waiting for citizenship, people must pay taxes anyways, all of us get some benefit from the federal, provincial or local government, so yes one must pay taxes as long as one is PR or temporary worker, so it's not a favour we do for the government.

While I understand that the bill may have a negative impact for many people I also understand that the Canadian government has the authority to change laws just like in any other country, and hopefully those laws will be in conformity with international bodies of legislation to which Canada is signatory. Unfortunately the Conservatives hold majority in Parliament, what we must do, as prospective new Canadians we eventually will be is to remember bills like this and vote accordingly. I cannot still believe that so many new Canadian citizens voted for the Conservative party in the last federal election and now they are reaping what the sow.

We can write to the MP of our riding and express our discontent but that will not change that much since the parliament is under total control of the Conservative party

 

[sashali78]

Re: Citizenship Act Bill C-24 discrimination of former foreign workers and students

Yes, Zardoz, please don't refer to the other parts of the bill which do not personally affect sashali78.

There is no need to be cynical. I do agree myself to the rest of the amendments of the Bill which is clearly stated on the petition.
This thread is about the petition which specifically talks about the temporary residence amendments.

 

[sashali78]

Re: Citizenship Act Bill C-24 discrimination of former foreign workers and students

How do you claim "over 800" signatures when the web site clearly shows only 750 Total as of now?"

You are clearly outdated, check again:
http://www.change.org/en-CA/petitions/canada-parliament-do-not-allow-discrimination-of-former-foreign-workers-and-students-by-new-canadian-citizenship-bill-c-24