Traditionally most of the Indians who were permanent residents here didn’t take the trouble to get Canadian citizenship.
In their view, why should they? They are entitled to all the privileges of citizenship except voting rights. Even that has been watered down. No one asks whether you are a citizen at registering or voting time. Like many other things, it is an honour system. In addition, why, these people asked themselves, should they lose the financial privileges of being an Indian citizen NRI? But now the pattern of thinking seems to have changed for these fence-sitters. Going forward they fear, what if the rising costs of a free health system forces the government to restrict the right to citizens only. What if the social security net (read old age pensions) is likewise restricted. What if they are convicted of a serious crime and deported to their country of origin (which would not happen if they are Canadian citizens). Generally the rule in western democracies is that once you are a citizen you cannot be deported unless you have withheld or falsified material information in your citizenship application. See the very recent case of a Goan man who obtained British citizenship and was later convicted of abusing a minor child. British courts have ruled that he can be deported since the abuse had continued for several years and he had omitted to state this when applying for his citizenship. This seems to me a very tenuous judgement and I am sure it will be appealed, but even though not many of the permanent Indian residents of Canada are pedophiles, the psychology of matters like these send shivers down their collective spine. These trends to me account for the increasing applications for citizenship as soon as they are eligible for it and not so much a special love for Canada. With the second generation of course, there is no hankering for India or things Indian. Roland. Toronto. > On Dec 26, 2018, at 7:44 AM, Frederick Noronha <[email protected]> > wrote: > > Read more at: > https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/50-rise-in-canadian-citizenship-for-indians-this-year/articleshow/67248609.cms > -- >
