Thank you.
I just wanted to respond to the assertion made by one of my colleagues that the citizenship ceremony change to online was something that was taken very seriously or supported by many Canadians. In fact, there was an article published in the Toronto Star on Monday of this week by Mr. Mansoor Ladha. The title of the article is “I’m horrified by the suggestion of cancelling in-person citizenship ceremonies”.
He says:
Citizenship ceremonies are emotional and personal experiences, especially for those of us who had the privilege of participating in one. The Department of Citizenship and Immigration is contemplating an end [to] in-person citizenship ceremonies in favour of a “secure online solution.”
The government is in fact considering this option.
He goes on to say:
I still remember the citizenship ceremony that I had to attend when I proudly became a Canadian citizen in 1975. I was with my wife and son, all dressed up in our finest (Hugo Boss suit for me), lined up with new Canadians of all backgrounds, happily showing off the Canadian flags.
When the time came to sing the newly memorized national anthem, I was so emotional that my eyes welled up with tears. Every Canada Day, I still have visions of my heartbreaking citizenship ceremony experience.
I am horrified the government is proposing to abolish this special welcoming in-person citizenship ceremonies with an administrative online box and do away with a group singing “O Canada.”
The fact that Canada, the most friendly and welcoming nation in the world, would resort to a computer-oriented system to announce its citizens is appalling. Ceremonies in everyone’s life, be it a birthday or a retirement party, play an important part, signifying milestones in their lives.
Now, this is a really interesting part, Madam Chair—