Thursday, November 12th, 2009
New guidebook to provide immigrants with deeper look at Canada
OTTAWA - The federal government has issued a new citizenship guidebook that teaches aspiring Canadians more about the military, political history, Confederation and First Nations than its predecessor.
Immigration Minister Jason Kenney says the more comprehensive study guide for Canadian citizenship includes information on common values such as freedom, democracy, human rights, the rule of law and the equality of men and women.
Kenney says the guide, entitled "Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship," promotes "a greater understanding of Canada's history, values, symbols and important Canadian institutions, such as Parliament and the Crown."
It also highlights the contribution of ethnic and cultural communities in shaping the Canadian identity and the sacrifices made by Canada's veterans.
Kenney says people who want to become Canadians should be expected to understand their rights and responsibilities, and "the values and institutions that are rooted in Canada's history."
Citizenship and Immigration consulted with a panel of prominent Canadians, including public figures, authors and historians, in developing the new guide.
It's also been reviewed by organizations involved in citizenship promotion, such as the Historica-Dominion Institute, the Association of Francophone and Acadian Communities and the Institute for Canadian Citizenship.
Aspiring Canadians are required to demonstrate an adequate knowledge of Canada and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.
The government says citizenship applicants scheduled for a test or an interview before the end of February should read the old study guide, "A Look at Canada."
Kenney says the new version should help better integrate immigrants into Canada and it should also help address what analysts have called Canadians' "historical amnesia."
It's about 20 pages longer than it 47-page predecessor, but Kenney says the citizenship test won't be any harder. He says it will still contain about 24 "straightforward" multiple-choice questions.
These are the first substantive changes to the study guide since it was created in 1995.
