Vote!

[armoured]

Anyone who got their citizenship already, can confirm from experience (of two family members today):
-Just go to your local polling station;
-take photocopy of citizenship certificate plus photo id with address (e.g. driver's license / provincial ID is perfect);
-When you get there, they'll send you to the registration desk if you didn't get the mailing showing you're registered.

In our local, registration took about 10 mins for three of us, about ten for voting - no lines at all when we went.

www.elections.ca for more detail.

*If you don't have what's above, still possible to vote - check the website. I'm just sharing what worked for us and what most recent citizens will have.

 

[dreamingmigrant]

Now that the liberals will form a minority government, what are the chances of citizenship requirements going back to 5 years (instead of current 3)?

 

[Seym]

Now that the liberals will form a minority government, what are the chances of citizenship requirements going back to 5 years (instead of current 3)?

Going back to 5 years? It was 3 out of 4, went 4 out of 6 with no PR-credit under Harper, now 3 out of 5...
And I probably have a better chance of winning the lotery than seeing the requirement set at 5 years.

 

[canuck78]

Now that the liberals will form a minority government, what are the chances of citizenship requirements going back to 5 years (instead of current 3)?

The only certainty is that there will be changes but what changes and which are the highest priorities is tough to say. First need to see who will be the minister.

 

[canuck78]

Going back to 5 years? It was 3 out of 4, went 4 out of 6 with no PR-credit under Harper, now 3 out of 5...
And I probably have a better chance of winning the lotery than seeing the requirement set at 5 years.

Don’t necessary think it is going to happen anytime soon but think 5 years is not off the table. If the goal is to retain talent and increase the chances of people establishing their lives in Canada the current system has to change. Making Canada more attractive professionally and making skill transfer easier needs to be part of the plan at the same time.

 

[mano99]

Now that the liberals will form a minority government, what are the chances of citizenship requirements going back to 5 years (instead of current 3)?

0%

 

[dreamingmigrant]

The only certainty is that there will be changes but what changes and which are the highest priorities is tough to say. First need to see who will be the minister.

Don't they have bigger fishes to fry than increasing the eligibility period for citizenship? I hope that people who worked hard to get their PRs will at least have a chance to become citizens after 3 years, as is the case now.

 

[dreamingmigrant]

Don’t necessary think it is going to happen anytime soon but think 5 years is not off the table. If the goal is to retain talent and increase the chances of people establishing their lives in Canada the current system has to change. Making Canada more attractive professionally and making skill transfer easier needs to be part of the plan at the same time.

Most people want to stay in Canada but they also want a nicer passport that allows visa free travels. And the ones who want to dash after getting their passport will do so anyways after 5 years as well!

 

[canuck78]

0%

Wouldn’t say zero. Canada has a problem retaining immigrants especially skilled professionals who we want to retain. It would actually make sense to bring us more in line with some other countries to reduce the rotating door of people who want the passport but have no intention in remaining. Also would reduce the liability that comes with a large number of Canadian citizens living abroad having only spent 3 years in Canada working and paying into the tax base and 2nd generations with no time in Canada.

 

[canuck78]

Most people want to stay in Canada but they also want a nicer passport that allows visa free travels. And the ones who want to dash after getting their passport will do so anyways after 5 years as well!

True but after 5 years and intent to remain clause you would get more establishment and some more return for the passport if people to leave. A 5-6 year commitment versus a 3 year commitment is a big difference. That said don’t think it is a top issues one of the issues that need to be examined when it comes to immigration.

 

[canuck78]

Don't they have bigger fishes to fry than increasing the eligibility period for citizenship? I hope that people who worked hard to get their PRs will at least have a chance to become citizens after 3 years, as is the case now.

Changing the requirement may take some time and effort but after that no change in processing demands. If anything it could be cost saving if you retain more immigrants and may be able to decrease volume of new PR applications, longer term immigrants tend to contribute more to Canada, etc. If you have no plans to leave whether it is 3 or 5 years makes no difference for most.

 

[scylla]

Now that the liberals will form a minority government, what are the chances of citizenship requirements going back to 5 years (instead of current 3)?

It was never five years. However there have been stricter requirements introduced in the past. These were introduced by the Conservatives and reversed by the Liberas so without a Conservative government in charge, IMO the chances are 0%. Answer would be different if Conservatives had won.

 

[armoured]

It was never five years. However there have been stricter requirements introduced in the past. These were introduced by the Conservatives and reversed by the Liberas so without a Conservative government in charge, IMO the chances are 0%. Answer would be different if Conservatives had won.

They've bigger fish to fry though - like straws.

 

[dreamingmigrant]

However there have been stricter requirements introduced in the past.

Like what? Can they come again in play?

 

[scylla]

Like what? Can they come again in play?

Did you read my full post? I already answered this question. The stricter requirements were introduced by Conservatives and reversed by Liberals. The Liberals have been voted back in.