OTTAWA—The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, recently issued the following statement to mark the start of Citizenship Week, which runs from May 23 to 29.
"Today, I join Canadians from coast to coast to coast to mark the beginning of Citizenship Week. This week is a chance to celebrate what it means to be Canadian from the rights we enjoy, to the responsibilities we share, to the diversity that makes us a strong and proud nation.”
Minister Fraser continued by stating, "This year, we marked the 75th anniversary of the first Canadian Citizenship Act. The passage of the Act, which was later replaced with the Citizenship Act in 1977, was a monumental moment in Canadian history that shaped the identity we share today. In the days that followed, Canada held its first-ever citizenship ceremony, establishing a formalized rite of passage that millions of new Canadians have taken part in since.”
In his statement, he spoke about how Canada is known globally as a country that respects and celebrated diversity, and that Canada has amended our Citizenship Act to reflect our values and promote an inclusive society. Minister Fraser described how these amendments, “Include broadening the interpretation of "citizenship by descent" to be more inclusive for families. They also include establishing a new Oath of Citizenship that recognizes the inherent and treaty rights of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples, and the obligation that all citizens have to uphold the treaties between the Crown and Indigenous nations. We are committed to ensuring that the tragic parts of our history are not forgotten, as we continue on the path of reconciliation.”
Citizenship week holds a tremendous amount of significance and meaning for so many and for so many different reasons. According to his statement, for some, “It represents the achievement of a dream and the promise of a new life. For others, it is an innate and unbreakable bond to the beautiful country we call home.”
Minister Sean Fraser closed his statement by asking all Canadians to continue to look for ways to build a strong, inclusive and prosperous Canada, not only during Citizenship Week, but every week.
