Lost Canadians

Posted on by

Speaking of citizenships, I just learned that had Canadian law been what it is now when my father immigrated, I would now also be a Canadian citizen, which would be awesome. But, as it was prior to 1977, my father lost his Canadian citizenship when he became a naturalized American citizen, and so I was thereby preemptively stripped of my ancestral Canadian rights. Why Canada? Why?

27 thoughts on “Lost Canadians”

  1. It still might be possible to appeal to the Canadian government on a personal basis, stating that your father losing his citizenship was unjust. After the government did state that “anyone born to a Canadian citizen abroad — mother or father, in or out-of-wedlock — on or after January 1, 1947, is a Canadian citizen and will have their citizenship confirmed if they are the first generation born abroad. But no further.” You just need them to recognize that taking away citizenship from people who became citizens of another country is unjust considering that dual citizenship is now allowed and common.

    As a dual citizen of the Canada and the United States I have the best of both worlds (my mother is a US citizen/Canadian permament resident). What I find interesting is that even though I'm a US citizen who's never lived in the US I'm eligable to vote in the presidential election through my mom's residency.

  2. Where does the idea that citizenship is something that ought to be pursued when lacking or pined over when lost come from? Subtracting out the benefits of visa-free travel, itself a perverse and oppressive invention only a hundred years old, what remains of vaunted citizenship but subjection?

  3. Robert, I'd probably have a better case if I actually intended to live in Canada at some point. Maybe someday I will!

    Mike: It's easier (or not impossible) to travel some places with a Canadian passport, and that matters to me. If I could, I'd have 10 citizenships and bounce around the world with a frictionlessness only diplomats and lords of poverty enjoy.

  4. I agree with Will on the passport. When I travel I use my Canadian passport because it just goes smoother. However, if I ran into trouble I'd go to the American embassy, since it holds more sway. Like I said, the best of both worlds.

  5. Robert, Exactly.

    And, Mike, if you don't like being a subject, you can renounce your citizenship. But, in the actual scheme of things, I'd rather be taxed than stateless. If you're a first-world citizen, that citizenship is probably your most lucrative asset by far. Too bad there's not a market in citizenships.

  6. I always thought your head was a bit floppy Will; now I know why:) But, yes, a plethora of passports a la Jason Bourne under current conditions would be the best of all worlds, for folks who like to travel at least.

  7. Will: “And, Mike, if you don't like being a subject, you can renounce your citizenship.”

    That's the plan, actually. We'll see how it goes. With the Schengen area as my cage, I think I'll get by.

  8. And, Mike, if you don't like being a subject, you can renounce your citizenship.

    Note that getting US citizenship involves a pro forma renunciation of others, but other countries in general ignore that.

    There are a few citizenships that one would not necessarily want, particularly the ones that come with military obligations. I know of people who have run into issues in South Korea, Jordan, and even France back before they suspended mandatory conscription– including some cases where they didn't have a passport, didn't know that they were a citizen, and hadn't visited the country previously but had been put on the Family Register by a grandparent or such.

  9. There are a few citizenships that one would not necessarily want, particularly the ones that come with military obligations.

    Yes. My mother renounced her Israeli citizenship so that I wouldn't have to serve in the army. Some of my friends, born of Israeli parents, were not so lucky when they spent a year living in Israel post-high school, and either had to serve or leave the country every 3-4 months.

    My mother, incidentally, was held in prison for a half a day while pregnant with me, because she never served in the Israeli army and was trying to leave the country.

  11. It is actually pretty easy to cross over from the States to live and work in Canada.

    Perhaps, this isn't necessarily a bad thing.

    Some folks have multiple citizenships and the actual benefit doesn't seem too clear to me.

  20. I am an American and my husband is a Canadian. Would it be possible for me to have dual citizenship? I just love Canada but I'm not about to give up my American citizenship. Any ideas?

  24. @barbie – If you have one parents who is a Canadian citizen according to the new law (April 2009) you can have dual citizenship. I'm not sure if your grandmother or parents being a citizen it will make it easier for you to apply for dual citizenship. You can Google the website and check them out..

    -Miyaka Yusheto

  25. I know of people who have run into issues in South Korea, Jordan, and even France back before they suspended mandatory conscription– including some cases where they didn't have a passport, didn't know that they were a citizen, and hadn't visited the country previously but had been put on the Family Register by a grandparent or such

  26. I know of people who have run into issues in South Korea, Jordan, and even France back before they suspended mandatory conscription– including some cases where they didn't have a passport, didn't know that they were a citizen, and hadn't visited the country previously but had been put on the Family Register by a grandparent or such