Letters to the Editor
CanadianBill
Published Letters: 3 Editor's Choice: 1
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Citizenship isn't that easy
[Read the article: Northern exposure]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]A factual correction: just because "Kyle Snyder has recently married a Canadian woman" does not lead to "and will gain citizenship". If a citizen of another country marries a Canadian, they are generally entitled to be sponsored by their spouse as a "family class" immigrant to Canada. If their application is approved-- there is an immigration review to determine whether the marriage is bona fide, a medical exam, and the sponsor and sponsoree must meet certain criteria and agree to be financially responsible for their partner for 10 years, even if the marriage ends sooner--the immigrant is accepted into Canada as a "Permanent Resident", roughly equivalent to the American "Resident Alien" status. Permanent residents are subject to deportation to their country of citizenship if they commit serious crimes in Canada, and lack the protected status of an actual Canadian citizen. (Although they are certainly a whole lot better off than going back to kill-or-be-killed Iraq). After three years as a permanent resident, they are eligible to apply for citizenship.
It's a good deal marrying a Canadian (my wife did it), and you can maintain your US or other citizenship if you wish to, but it's not an automatic fast-track to Canadian citizenship--just to legal residency.
Good luck to Kyle Snyder and the other conscientious refugees from this insane conflict. I'd like to see some courageous decisions allowing them refugee or other legal immigrant status, but with our current government it's not likely to happen.
Finally, the suggestion that their presence here is somehow controversial or "touchy" is overblown. It's not a crucial issue to most, just one more manifestation of whether one is pro- or anti-Bush administration. (Since the overwhelming proportion of Canadians fall in the latter camp, the note that "left-leaning politicians" fear to offer public support is odd. Actually, we LIKE to offend Bush and get too few chances these days. The New Democratic Party, the traditional leftist third party, is listed as an official supporter of War Resisters Support Campaign at resist.ca. Don't confuse the Liberal Party with left-leaning, please.)
Bill Cameron
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Re: re: Citizenship Isn't That Easy
[Read the article: Northern exposure]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Jared2 responded to me: " I will repeat that for the sake of American citizens who lack health care - prospective Canadian immigrants have full health care befifits even before becoming citizens. Because Canadians think it would be uncivilized to welcome people to their country and not give them health care. That is the difference between Canada and the US."
Jared I think you are perhaps being a little too kind to us...
In fact there is very little difference in the day-to-day lives of almost all non-citizens of Canada with Permanent Resident status, and Canadian citizens. Non-citizens aren't entitled to vote (thousands do though because they are put on the electoral rolls automatically from tax records), can be deported more easily if they happen to turn out to be Very Bad People, and only non-citizens can be detained/deported on a Security Certificate (look that up in your Wikipedia, it may temper your enthusiasm for all things kind and Canadian just a bit). Citizens receive preferential hiring for gov't jobs. My wife was here for over 20 years before she finally got around to taking out citizenship last year, to my great relief.
But if I was an AWOL US soldier hoping to make a new life in Canada, I would want to get citizenship here ASAP. It will be interesting to see if Kyle Snyder and his fellow deserters are able to stay long enough, and work their way through the immigration process. I hope so. Vietnam-era draft avoiders and deserters are some of our most valued citizens now.
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Say, here's a thought.
[Read the article: Knol lacks knowledge]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]When writing an article about a website, it helps to cite the correct URL. There is no "google.knol.com". The site cited is at http://knol.google.com.
There is a "knol.com" but it is occupied by some rather pissed-off-at-Google Germanic types whose only line of English on their homepage is: "NOTE: We sell steamcleaning equipment and don't sell our domain !!"
Bill