Citizenship and Immigration committee  Thank you for your comments, and thank you for the question. As indicated in the outline, we as an organization do not think that the proposed requirement of four years out of six years is too much. We actually do welcome the increase. Again, this is an immigrant community that's positing this.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  It would put you in isolation, yes.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  In principle, it certainly does. Again, I began at the opening by saying we hold citizenship in Canada as a privilege. Again, going back to the hockey jersey analogy, everyone has the chance to try out. You've done your part, you've earned a spot on the team, and you're handed a jersey.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I appreciate that this is an issue that's outside the scope of the actual bill, and to be quite honest, our organization doesn't actually have particular knowledge in terms of what the current status is or what the previous programs are. I obviously have picked up some information today in terms of the comments that are being made.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Thank you again for the question. You've raised three potential issues. Issues one and two on constitutional issues are outside our ambit, but on issue three—and I made a reference to this in my opening remarks—I obviously had the opportunity to watch the hearing that took place in this room, I believe, on April 28.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  That was the sense I was left with as well, which just seems a little bit unclear to me. Again, in principle, we like the idea.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Thank you for the question. Yes, I agree wholeheartedly. Right there in the Immigrants for Canada charter of principles is that language is a unifier. Even on a values front and a cultural front, the mere fact that you have the capacity to turn to the person to your left or the person to your right and have a conversation with that person automatically creates a natural connection.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Thank you for the question. I think that a portion of it, in principle...and the comments of my friends here today are quite appropriate. You're out of time, so I'll be very quick. It needs a bit of review. I don't know the right answer, but either a portion of it that's capped, or just a portion of it, whether it be one out of every three days, or something to that effect.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  To be quite honest—

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Yes. I think it needs a little revisiting, if only to account for some people who are here with the best of intentions, working or studying, but the entire time shouldn't be.... You shouldn't be able to skip the entire residency requirement, as I think Ms. Go is saying.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Thank you for the question. To be quite frank, with respect to that particular issue, I'm not able to provide any comment, only because, as I indicated at the outset, the comments today, on behalf of Immigrants for Canada, are limited to the issues I addressed. The specific process of that particular issue is not one that we, as an organization, have taken a position on or—

Citizenship and Immigration committee  I'm happy to discuss that.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Thank you again for the question. Yes, in 1947, in my understanding, it was a five-year requirement. Then the act was amended in 1977. I'm not going to comment on whether or not I was born the last time this act was amended, but I wasn't, so it's been some time. It then changed to three years and now it's proposed to be four of six years with those four years being a minimum of 183 days.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  No, I don't think that's unreasonable at all, and I don't know if anybody would think it is unreasonable to say that. Again I say that, with the team analogy, if you're a part of this team, we expect you not to kill your fellow citizens. We expect you not to lie your way onto the team.

Citizenship and Immigration committee  Thank you for the question. Obviously, in principle, I think the idea of streamlining is one that we'd all agreed to. I think it is more appealing to immigrants, particularly obviously those who are abiding by the residency requirements. They've shown a significant interest and commitment to the country and want to take the next step of becoming Canadian citizens.