Mr. Karygiannis.
Evidence of meeting #36 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was born.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #36 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was born.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Jim Karygiannis Liberal Scarborough—Agincourt, ON
The witness held something up, and I was wondering, for the record, if he can tell us what it was.
Lost Canadian Organization
This one's my Canadian Legion card, so I'm a member of the Legion. My dad couldn't be a member, but I got it based on my dad. Because he had taken out U.S. citizenship, he couldn't be a member. This is my Canadian birth certificate, and this is my permanent residence card in Canada, which says I'm a landed immigrant. So it's quite insulting to me.
We talked earlier about Bill S-2. Bill S-2 did not correct this problem. It gave children like me the right to come back to Canada, but then I have to pay a Canadian head tax, and I can't bring my children. I have to leave my children at the border. So for me to be a good Canadian, I have to be a lousy father and a lousy son.
NDP
Bill Siksay NDP Burnaby—Douglas, BC
Mr. Chapman, would you explain what you mean by a Canadian head tax?
Lost Canadian Organization
Well, I have to pay a tax to get my Canadian citizenship restored. And you know what? It's my birthright. And that's one of the questions we have: is citizenship a right or a privilege?
Lost Canadian Organization
--I have to pay a fee.
They talked a lot about Bill C-14, with the right of being able to have adoption. So the Government of Canada, this government, made it a priority to allow any Canadian to adopt pretty much any foreign child, and that child will be Canadian within six weeks.
But I will be Canadian, and I don't have the right to bring my own children. I can't adopt them; they're already mine. For the government to process my application—this is a former Canadian, not somebody who's never been Canadian, but a guy who's got a real track record—it says that they could take upwards of 18 months, maybe two years.
I'm sorry, the punishment here doesn't fit the crime. I didn't do anything wrong. I'm guilty only of being a very proud Canadian.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Norman Doyle
I'm sorry to interrupt the proceedings, but we are at 1:30.
Some members of the committee would like photocopies of these documents, Mr. Chapman.
I'm sorry I couldn't entertain your questions, Mr. Komarnicki.
I do want to thank you, Mr. Chapman, for being here on such short notice.
We will now adjourn our meeting.