Canadian immigration celebrated during citizenship week
October 20 2009 by Liam Clifford
This weekend sees a celebration of Canada's immigrant population.
Canada will celebrate its immigrant population this weekend with particular emphasis on Canadian citizenship.
Canadian Citizenship Week consists of ceremonies taking place throughout the country, where hundreds of foreigners, who have emigrated to Canada, will be made official Canadian citizens.
Canadian immigration minister Jason Kenney says it is also an opportunity for all Canadians to celebrate citizenship, “Canadian citizenship is highly valued. Citizenship Week 2009 is an opportunity for all Canadians to celebrate our citizenship.”
Kenny continues to suggest that Citizenship Week 2009 should be a time for Canadian citizens to reflect on their responsibilities to their country. He adds, “it is a time to reflect on what it means to be a Canadian and to be grateful for the rights and freedoms that we enjoy.”
Some 85 per cent of people who emigrate to Canada on a Canadian visa become citizens, which is one of the highest naturalisation rates in the world. In 2008 alone, some 176,000 immigrants were awarded Canadian citizenship.
Jason Kenney says immigration into Canada is vital for the country and added, “the theme of Citizenship Week 2009 is Our Citizenship. We want all Canadians to recognise that, no matter where you came from, when you become a Canadian citizen, Canadian history becomes your history and Canadian values become your values.”
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