A victory for Telegdi

The Record
Editorial
Nov. 4, 2002

In a world of uncertainty, Canadian citizenship is certainly a prize. A birthright for millions of people, it is a precious acquisition for millions of others, obtained only after they have gone through the arduous labour of leaving home, moving to this country and investing in a new identity. But it is worth it. And our citizenship should be cherished not only for the rights and freedoms if ensures but for the connection it forges with this magnificent land.

Because it is priceless, Canadian citizenship should be granted carefully and only to those who are deserving and willing to commit to this nation. Similarly, it should be taken away from people only in exceptional circumstances, after the most judicious consideration and the most open and fair process have occurred. Both of these needs are recognized and met in proposed changes to Canada's citizenship laws.

Andrew Telegdi, the MP for Kitchener-Waterloo, can be credited for spearheading the changes to the revocation process, and these changes are overdue. The way it stands now, the federal cabinet has the power to revoke the Canadian nationality of war criminals, terrorists and members of organized crime. In cabinet, also, lies the power to deport such individuals.

A Hungarian refugee who came to Canada in 1957, Telegdi has long believed that the revocation process was flawed and committed himself to improving it. Because Telegdi, a Liberal, disagreed with his own government on this point, he resigned his position as Parliamentary Secretary for Citizenship and Immigration and watched his salary plunge accordingly.

The proposed changes would give a federal judge power to revoke citizenship, And this decision could be appealed, all the way to the Supreme Court. Surely this is an improvement. It takes the power away from politicians who are susceptible to political lobbying and who may lack the time or legal expertise to evaluate a case. And it give the power to a judge, who is removed from politics and whose own decision is, within limits, open to appeal. We applaud Telegdi's tenacity in this matter and hope he finds some satisfaction in the fact that the government has come around to his way of thinking.