MPs squabble over cost of saving dual citizens

[tuvor]

Tim Naumetz, The Ottawa Citizen
Published: Wednesday, July 19, 2006

A debate raged yesterday over the government's decision to rescue thousands of Canadians in Lebanon who are dual citizens and likely reside there permanently.

Conservative MP Garth Turner said the Canadians with two passports are not "accidental tourists" and taxpayers might question the cost.

A Liberal MP agreed, saying priority should be given to Canadians who were only visiting Lebanon when Israel began air attacks.

But other MPs criticized Mr. Turner -- saying "a Canadian is a Canadian" -- while an entry on the Conservative MP's blog sparked an Internet war of words over the issue.

http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/story.html?id=d0c57c7f-fc77-419e-86b3-aa42c02bd167

(It was our government which gave all the people in question Canadian status. Some Canadians should not be more equal than others. Suck it up, gentlemen.)

[Spazito]

1. The Faux Con bigotry raises it ugly head yet again, once a Reformer,

always a Reformer, you can change the name all you want but bigotry will remain as a staple of this group of politicians.

And, yes, I call Toronto Liberal MP Derek Lee a bigot as well but, in this case, it is one Liberal whereas the Faux Cons are a bigoted party.

[MrPrax]

2. Good point...

but it's hardly the time to bring it up...

But since he did, would that also go for Israeli-Canadian dual citizens who permanently reside in Israel, in illegal settlements, who come to Canada to raise money illegally here for settlements' and their militias, operate in Canada as sayanim and who do military service in foreign armies that may come into conflict with our own?

Dual citizenship is a bit of a stickler and most countries don't recognize it -- Canada of course is rather unique in it's generous contribution. But that is the nature of our history -- the British used to run the place and so there was always a strong class bias in all this citizenship stuff.

[CHIMO]

3. Mother No - One Year Old Yes

Mother a permanent resident couldn't board, but her one year old daughter had a pass. Husband, Canadian citizen in Montreal. Mother not allowed on the boat.

AIH 8:11 into the program.
http://cbc.ca/asithappens/media/dailyshow/2006-07-19-aih1.ram

Then Le Breton tells the CBC that they are screwing up.

LANDED & STRANDED Duration: 00:05:14
Also among the thousands of people hoping for safe passage out of Lebanon today was Ramya el-Heylou. She wants to return to her home in Montreal where her husband, a Canadian citizen, is waiting for her.

But unlike her husband, Ramya only has a "permanent resident" status -- while her one-year-old daughter, with whom she happens to be traveling, is a Canadian citizen. Today, when she and her baby showed up at the dock to leave Beirut, officials informed her only one of them was boarding the ship.

We reached Ramya el-Haylou in the village of Ain Ksour in Lebanon.

[Spazito]

4. Thanks for the link!

I love As It Happens, I must make a point of listening to it more often.