That is what we are on now and why patronage appointments exist. They are a gift to those who support the government. That is all they are and nothing more.
Let us look at the hypocrisy of the government and what is going on. It was not that long ago the Canadians census came out. Many people in my constituency, first and second generation Canadians, filled in a little section by putting in the word Canadian.
What happened when they did that? The government threatened to sue and imprison some of these people because they had the gall to write in that they were Canadians. They came to my office and said “Mr. Stinson, I came here to become a Canadian. I want to take on the nationality of a Canadian. My children are Canadian and we look upon ourselves as Canadians”. Yet the government has threatened them for saying they are Canadian. Even as a seventh generation Canadian I was not allowed to put Canadian on that census. What exactly is going on here? It goes beyond being a joke.
Let us look at some of the powers in clause 43. Under this clause Bill C-63 grants the minister far-reaching powers, unbelievable powers. The minister has the right to specify who may make an application under this act on behalf of a minor, fix fees and define who is a spouse for the purpose of the act. I only have to see that part to start wondering what is going on. The minister may define what constitutes a relationship of parent and child for the purposes of determining the entitlement to citizenship under any provision of the act.
As a Canadian citizen I demand a voice in this regard. I demand the people of Canada also have a voice in this regard and not just the minister. This is arrogance of the highest form.
If the minister really wishes to improve the Citizenship Act, she should be willing to bring some of these questions into the open, have a debate and hear from the Canadian people, not make these decisions behind closed doors where she is not accountable to anyone.