Conservatives abandon “Lost Canadians”, refuse to adopt Jennings’ motion

“There are many people in this country who at one point had their citizenship, and then out of no fault of their own, had it taken away,” said Mrs. Jennings. “This motion calls upon the government to award citizenship retroactively to the remaining ‘Lost Canadians’, as well as to each and any of their offspring.”

Since the passing of the Citizenship Act in 1977, it has been revealed that a large number of Canadians do not qualify for citizenship under the existing law. These “Lost Canadians” for various legal reasons, either lost their citizenship or were never recognized as citizens in the first place. “I myself am a Canadian who spent over a month in trying to confirm my own status” said Mrs. Jennings. “I am in fact a Canadian citizen, but there are still many Canadians who are fighting to have this recognition.”

The motion introduced by Mrs. Jennings lists the names of eighteen individuals who represent various remaining cases of “Lost Canadians”. This list includes Guy Valliere, a retired soldier who fought for Canada during the Second World War, and who died in February 2009, to whom former Citizenship and Immigration Minister Diane Finlay had publically promised to grant citizenship. “I cannot speak more passionately about this issue,” said Mrs. Jennings. “This government has failed to serve these Canadians, which is why I have introduced this motion on behalf of all citizens.”

However, the Harper government has wilfully refused to adopt at all stages, the motion put forward by Mrs. Jennings. If fact, the Government House Leader had directed profane language at Mrs. Jennings while she was presenting the motion in the House of Commons. “I believe that this type of language expressed by the Government House Leader, especially on an issue of such importance, is absolutely unacceptable”, said Mrs. Jennings. The Government House Leader immediately apologized for his actions. “I think that this government’s refusal to adopt this motion, especially during Citizenship Week, speaks volumes about their commitment to protect the rights of all Canadians,” said Mrs. Jennings. “These individuals are citizens and the government’s refusal to recognize this fact is absolutely unacceptable.”

This is not the first example, however, where the Conservative government has abandoned the “Lost Canadians”. In 2006, the Supreme Court of Canada had ruled that denying citizenship to “out-of wedlock” children born with a Canadian parent, who represent a number of “Lost Canadians”, was unconstitutional. Jackie Scott, whose name is listed in Mrs. Jennings’ motion, is one of these children who were born out of wedlock. Although her parents had married shortly after her birth, her application for citizenship was refused last February by Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney. “The fact that the Minister is ignoring the Supreme Court’s ruling is shameful and illegal,” said Mrs. Jennings. “He must comply with this ruling and award citizenship to Ms. Scott and all those who are in a similar situation.”

Although the adoption of Mrs. Jennings’ motion at all stages was refused by the Conservative government, Liberal MPs have vowed to continue to fight for this cause. The Honourable Maurizio Bevilacqua, who is the Liberal Critic for Citizenship and Immigration, stated, “The Liberal Party is committed to holding the Harper government to account by pushing to ensure that this issue is resolved once and for all.”

Although Mrs. Jennings’ motion was not adopted at all stages, it remains tabled at first reading and will be debated at a later date. “This week is Citizenship Week,” said Mrs. Jennings. “There is no better time to recognize these Canadians, and the government must act quickly to resolve this issue.”