Topic – Canadian Citizenship

Canadian Citizenship

Did you know that to vote in an election or hold government office, a person must be a Canadian citizen? A person is an automatic citizen of Canada in two ways. The first way is if a person is born in Canada. The second way is if anyone born outside of Canada has a Canadian parent.

As a Canadian citizen, we have certain rights and responsibilities. A right describes a moral claim to something. For example, people have the right to vote in an election for whomever they want to see as a leader. Therefore, their responsibility to that right is to make sure they vote. Canada’s government is a form of democracy. A democracy is a form of government in which people are responsible for electing their leaders.

Here is a list of ways of how Canadians can be active citizens:

1.   Vote in elections.

2.   Join a political party.

3.   Write a letter to the prime minister, premier, or your local representative.

4.   Volunteer in your local community.

5.   Hold or attend a public meeting.

6.   Talk to political representatives.

7.   Join a lobby group.

8.   Sign or start a petition.

9.   Run as a political representative.

10. Read the newspaper.

Did you know Canada is a country made up of people from all over the world? People who have moved from one country to another are called immigrants. Some immigrants who live in Canada choose to work and live here, but do not become citizens. Other immigrants choose to become citizens. People who were born in other countries have to live in Canada for at least three years out of the five years right before they apply to become a Canadian citizen.

Canadian citizenship

Some requirements to becoming a Canadian citizen:

1. A person must be 18 years old.

2. A person must be a legal permanent resident.

3. A person must know enough English or French so that they can understand other people and be understood when speaking.

4. A person must learn about Canada.

5. A person must write and pass the citizenship test.

Some reasons why someone cannot become a Canadian citizen:

1. A person has been in prison, on parole, or on probation in the last four years.

2. A person has been convicted of a punishable crime in the last three years.

3. A person has been charged with a crime that is a punishable offence.

4. A person is under a deportation order and is not supposed to be in Canada.

5. A person is charged with an offence under the Citizenship Act.

Sometimes, applications to become a Canadian citizen take a very long time to process. Some people like to take Canadian citizenship and language classes to prepare for the citizenship test. If a person meets all the requirements to become a Canadian citizen, they take an oath of citizenship at a special ceremony.

The Oath of Citizenship

I, _______ swear 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.

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