CITIZENSHIP SHOULD BE CELEBRATED

CITIZENSHIP CEREMONIES IN PETERBOROUGH MADE HER FEEL GOOD ABOUT CANADA, WRITES SYLVIA SUTHERLAND

Years ago, when Peter Adams was the MPP and I the mayor, he said to me, "Aren't our jobs great? We get get to see so much we wouldn't otherwise know about."

Peter was right. And sometimes what you see as an elected official can make you feel really great. Not always, but sometimes.

One of the things I enjoyed the most as mayor was attending Citizenship Court, where individuals swear an oath of allegiance to this country before a citizenship judge. When they were held in Peterborough, I was invited and always made a point of attending. Why?

Because I felt so good when I left. I loved seeing the enthusiasm, the hope, the joy and the promise that had been shared in that room. I felt good about watching people of every age and ethnicity celebrate what they now had in common. I felt good about Canada.

The federal government is now considering doing away with the court and having people swear the oath all on their own online. The government estimates this would save time (three months) and resources.

As Sergio Marchi, who served as Minister of Citizenship and Immigration under Jean Chrétien, wrote recently, "Talk about adding insult to injury!"

He says that the ceremony is not just for the candidates, but "a special occasion to be shared with other Canadians. It helps remind us all of our civic obligations and respect toward one another."

It is something we all need reminding of right now.

I remember taking my U.S.-born friend, Cynthia, to be sworn in as a Canadian citizen. She had pondered long and hard over this decision and once it was possible for her to retain her American citizenship as well, she took the leap.

I drove her and her Scottish-born husband, Jack, down to Oshawa for the event.

Not one to take anything lightly, Cynthia had a bit of an issue with part of the oath.

"I have no problem swearing allegiance to the Queen, but I am not at all certain about her heirs and successors," she told us.

Jack and I watched as Cynthia, who speaks French, took the oath in both languages. Neither of us saw her lips move in either when it came to "heirs and successors."

Later, I made a point of introducing her to Prince Edward when he was in town. She quite liked him.

I am having lunch with Cynthia and Jack soon. I must remember to ask her how she feels about King Charles III.