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TORONTO, December
9, 2005 -- In a press conference on Saturday, Citizens for a
Canadian Republic will be announcing support for legal action
contesting the constitutionality of the Canadian Citizenship
Act's oath of allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II and her heirs and
successors. The announcement is being made on Human Rights Day,
recognized worldwide as a day to mark the anniversary of the
adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.
The applicant, Toronto lawyer Charles Roach, filed his claim in
Ontario Superior Court on Wednesday, December 7, 2005. Roach, a
well-known civil rights activist, is a senior member of Citizens
for a Canadian Republic as well as the lead defense council for
the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.
The action alleges the federal government is contravening the
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 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. The plaintiffs claim their
deeply felt rejection of monarchy's inegalitarian and
undemocratic nature is protected under both the charter and the
UDHR, of which Canada is a signatory, and consequently, they
should not be forced to discard that belief in order to obtain
citizenship.
As has been done with Australia's revised Citizenship Act, the
plaintiffs believe that requiring allegiance solely to their new
country and its laws is both adequate and in keeping with
Canada's status as an independent nation.
Full details and documentation of the legal action, including
objectives, will be provided at the press conference.
Date: Saturday, December 10, 2005
Time: 2:00 PM
Location:
Metro Hall, Rotunda - East side, Main floor, 55 John St.,
Toronto, ON
ON M5V3C6
(between Wellington and King)
Refreshments will be
provided.
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| ABOUT
CITIZENS FOR A CANADIAN REPUBLIC |
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Founded in 2002,
Citizens for a Canadian Republic
is a registered not-for-profit, non-partisan
organization advocating full Canadianization of the head
of state.
It sees reforming the Governor General’s office as a
transitional stage, eventually leading to a position
rendered completely independent of the British monarchy.
Similar to the goals of the republican movements of
Australia and New Zealand, this change would make
Canada a parliamentary republic, such as Ireland or
fellow Commonwealth member, India.
More information is available at
CCR’s website. |
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| CONTACT |
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| Susan
Bazinet |
| Citizens
for a Canadian Republic |
| 2100
Bloor Street West, Suite 6 - 146 |
| Toronto,
Ontario M6S 5A5 |
| Phone(416)705-5660,
Fax(416)532-3792 |
| info@canadian-republic.ca |
| www.canadian.republic.ca |
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| OTHER
CONTACTS |
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| Tom
Freda -
(416)705-5660 or national.director@canadian-republic.ca |
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Charles Roach -
(416)657-1472 |
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MORE INFORMATION |
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Present 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 fulfil my duties as a Canadian
citizen. |
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Australian Citizenship
Pledge - (Revised in 1993 to delete reference to the
Queen) - As an Australian citizen, I affirm my loyalty
to Australia and its people, whose democratic beliefs I
share, whose rights and liberties I respect, and whose
laws I uphold and obey. |
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Citizens for a Canadian Republic |
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