Will citizenship be politicized?

Re Treat all citizens equally, Editorial Sept. 29

Thank you for your editorial on “two-tier” citizenship. I’ve been a Canadian for 59 years, longer than Stephen Harper. But because I immigrated to Canada, Harper has decided that my citizenship depends on his favour.

I consider myself an environmentalist. I believe that in order to safeguard the future of the human race, it may be necessary to limit oilsands production, to curtail pipeline construction, to control emissions and to reduce our environmental footprint.

I live in the riding of Joe Oliver, former Minister of Natural Resources, who has stated openly his opposition to “environmental and other radical groups.” I have no doubt that a political party as ideologically driven as the current Conservative party can see itself clear to extending the definition of “terrorism” to zealous environmentalists.

I don’t believe that either of the opposition parties embrace terrorism, but I do believe they have a better grasp of what it means to be a Canadian citizen in the world than does Stephen Harper. Brigitte Nowak, Toronto

The Conservatives came to this party invited by whichever government introduced the concept of dual citizenship. Canada should abolish dual citizenship and require all existing dual citizens to pick which country they choose as their homeland.

Once this matter is straightened out, it will be impossible to strip terrorists of their Canadian citizenship and we shall have to deal with our miscreants on our own. Patrick Cowan, North York