Immigration.ca - Canada Immigration News - August 2007
Canadians who hold dual citizenship are not unloyal, according to Jack Jedwab, head of the Association of Canadian Studies based in Montreal.
Controversy arose over the dual citizenship policy last year when thousands of dual citizens were evacuated from Lebanon during the war with Israel. The evacuation cost Canadian taxpayers over $100 million and sparked debate over whether Canadian citizens living abroad should be forced to give up their rights to citizenship. Critics suggested that these dual citizens were not loyal to Canada and that, though they were no longer contributing to Canadian society, they expected still to benefit from it.
"This has become another argument to bash multiculturalism," Jedwab stated. "Detractors of multiculturalism have been the biggest agitators and they've made a big mistake connecting these issues."
In support of his arguments, Jedwab pointed to the results of a 2001 census in which dual citizens were asked about the ties they feel to Canada. Over 80 per cent of those asked indicated that they felt a "strong" or "very strong" bond. This is only slightly below the figure of 84 per cent of single citizens who felt the same.
However, since last summer's evacuation, the policy of allowing dual citizenship has been under review at the Ministry of Immigration. A recent survey conducted by Ipsos Reid revealed that almost 40 per cent of Canadians now feel that dual citizenship should not be allowed.
Source: The Gazette
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=79783cb2-9717-4126-be5f-317e40053c74&p=2
