Taking the oath. (The Immigrant Experience--Citizenship).

A lot of time, effort, and emotion goes into leaving one's homeland and setting down roots in a new country.

There are often tears at citizenship ceremonies. The swearing of the citizenship oath and the handing over of the citizenship papers marks the end of a long and, for many, a difficult process.

Deciding to leave the country of your birth to settle somewhere else is often wrenching. It means leaving behind family, friends, a familiar culture, and a host of informal supports. Many leave their homes in terror, displaced by the horror of war, famine, or some other catastrophic upheaval. No matter how welcoming Canada and its people are, the settlement process is rarely smooth and seamless.

Adults over 18 years of age, who have been accepted as permanent residents, can apply to become citizens after three or more years in Canada. They have a hearing before a Citizenship Judge who assesses their suitability to be granted citizenship. There is an examination to test knowledge of Canada's geography, history, and government system. It's not an exaggeration to say that some people born in Canada would not be able to pass this test. A criminal background check might also be carried out. Applicants must also be proficient in one of Canada's two official languages.

If everything checks out well, the candidate is called to a Citizenship Court to be sworn in as a full citizen of Canada. Usually, the swearing in is dozen in the company of a few dozen other applicants, so there might be people from 20, 30, or 40 different countries present.

In October 2002, a new Citizenship Bill (C-16) was introduced in Ottawa. It proposes that:

* A greater emphasis be placed on existing Canadian values by changing the oath of citizenship to include a direct expression of loyalty to Canada. The pledge of loyalty to the Queen remains;

* A permanent resident be physically present in Canada for a total of three years out of the six years immediately prior to applying for Canadian citizenship;

* A fully judicial process be instituted under which a judge would decide if an individual's citizenship should be revoked. In the past, this has been in the hands of the federal cabinet and has been open to accusations of political interference;

* New powers be granted to the minister to take citizenship away from anyone who has used a false identity to obtain it. This and the previous elements are aimed at dealing with people engaged in terrorism, war crimes, and organized crime;

* The federal cabinet will be able to refuse citizenship in those rare cases where a person demonstrates a "flagrant and serious disregard for the principles and values underlying a free and democratic society." This section is aimed at people who promote hate crimes or who have been involved in human rights violations;

* Children adopted abroad by Canadians become citizens without having to enter Canada as permanent residents and apply for citizenship. The aim here is to eliminate any distinction between biologically related and adopted children;

* Citizenship commissioners, currently known as citizenship judges, play a more active rote in promoting Canadian citizenship; and,

* Children born abroad to Canadian parents would continue to acquire Canadian citizenship automatically in the first and second generations. However, second-generation children (i.e., grandchildren) would lose their citizenship at the age of 28 unless they have resided in Canada for three of the six years preceding their application for retention. The proposed legislation will thus limit the transmission of citizenship to those who demonstrate attachment to Canada. People from third and later generations will have to apply for permanent residence in the same way as every independent immigrant does.

These changes will be debated and perhaps tinkered with before becoming law. However, the act of choosing Canadian citizenship will still be full of emotion.

Following a recent citizenship ceremony in Kitchener, Ontario Judge Frank Hayden told the 24 new Canadians: "You are now entitled to use ... those five little--`I am a Canadian, eh.'"

FACT FILE

Currently, more than 90% of the people who apply to be granted Canadian citizenship are approved.

PRIVILEDGES OF CITIZENSHIP

You have to be a citizen to vote in federal elections, or stand for election as a Member of Parliament.

Only a Canadian citizen can apply for a Canadian passport. Some occupations, such as those in the Canadian Armed Forces, are closed to non-citizens.

Canada's New
Citizenship Bill--http://
www.cic.gc.ca/english/
policy/cit-act.html