Newcomers know our history: Kenney

Immigration minister impressed with level of knowledge about Canada

Newcomers are more prepared than ever to appreciate the significance of Canada’s 150th birthday, says Immigration Minister Jason Kenney — who believes the citizenship process is a key way for official Ottawa to engage recent arrivals in the 2017 festivities.

“One of the big things we’ve made an effort to do is deepen civic literacy for all Canadians, but particularly new Canadians in the citizenship process so when they reach Canada’s 150th anniversary, they’ll be able to understand the historical context,” Kenney said in an interview with Postmedia News.

Last year’s War of 1812 commemorations and next year’s First World War centenary are examples of nationwide efforts to remember Canada’s history, he said, but more specific to immigrants are changes made in 2010 to the multiple-choice test all would-be citizens are required to pass.

Immigrants must now demonstrate greater proficiency in either French or English and a better understanding of Canadian history, politics and culture if they want to become full citizens — a status that allows them to vote, obtain a Canadian passport and hold public office. Would-be Canadians can ultimately learn everything they’ll need to know to pass the test in the revamped Discover Canada study guide. However, the government also bumped up the pass threshold to 75 per cent as opposed to 60 per cent and as a result, failure rates are also up.

That said, Kenney is impressed by the level of knowledge newcomers have about Canadian history and identity, and believes those born here could actually learn a thing or two from them.

Noting “new Canadians are Canadians by choice and not chance,” he argues they often better understand the value of citizenship which is why they also tend to support recent government efforts to crack down on those who obtain their citizenship fraudulently.

“New Canadians are, by definition, people who came to this country, went through the citizenship process and as we strengthen that process, I think we’ll deepen the value … of citizenship,” he said.

“It should be something people don’t take for granted, that they make an effort to achieve and that’s why we always encourage people to think not just about the rights of citizenship but also the responsibilities so I think the best way we can promote the participation of new Canadians in the celebration of Canada 150 is again through that whole citizenship process.”