Canada's unconstitutional Citizenship Oath

Are you a naturalized citizen of Canada? If so, you were required under The Citizenship Act to recite the Canadian Citizenship Oath:

I swear (or affirm) that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Canada, Her Heirs and Successors, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of Canada and fulfill my duties as a Canadian citizen.

To many new Canadians, taking "the oath" is simply an ends to a means; citizenship of one of the world's great nations. The words they must recite to attain this goal have little to no meaning.

For others however, it's their solemn word and, if they're republican, taking an oath to the monarchy, an institution that's an undemocratic and inegalitarian representation of colonial subservience, is just plain offensive.

Tens of thousands of new Canadians also arrive here from countries which were oppressed or forcibly subjugated during the height of the British Empire. A good number of these people are shocked to learn that Canadian citizenship can be denied to them if they refuse to abide by this outdated oath and swear allegiance to a monarchy they assumed had long since been discarded here. We know this because many come to our organization seeking advice on how to deal with their concerns.

Up until now, the only advice we could offer was "write your MP." After all, there have been many attempts (all unsuccessful) to overhaul the Citizenship Act to delete reference to the monarchy (as Australia did in 1994). Perhaps our letters and lobbying would help the process of future reform of the act.

But now there's another way to get the government's attention about this issue. Presently, there's a class-action lawsuit being presented by would-be citizens who object to the reference to the monarchy in the Citizenship Oath on the grounds that the requirement contravenes the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, an act which guarantees freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression and protects individuals from being compelled to make statements contrary to their personal beliefs or opinions. Citing the same charter rights, the suit also includes new Canadians who, when becoming citizens, took the oath under duress.

Citizens for a Canadian Republic is supporting this legal action wholeheartedly. It's time to eliminate this embarrassment to Canada.

For more information, interested parties may contact Charles Roach at Roach, Schwartz & Associates (416)657-1472 or croach@roachschwartz.com

Further information:

Ontario Superior Court of Justice class-action application

Australia's Citizenship Pledge

Media Releases

Feb. 15, 2008 - Attorney General tries again to stop oath lawsuit

Sept. 12, 2007 - Monarchy oath lawsuit gets new hearing

May 7, 2007 - Citizenship Act class action hearing, Tuesday, May 8

Dec. 10, 2005 - Canada's Citizenship Act target of class action lawsuit

May 19, 2005 - Republicans to protest allegiance to Queen in citizenship oath

May 13, 2005 - Citizenship oath should be to Canada not Queen

Nov. 5, 2002 - Oath to Queen costs Canada citizens

Citizenship Oath Recantations

May 24, 2004,   May 21, 2005,   May 22, 2006

 

 

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