Study Guide - Discover Canada (large …

1 Study Guide Discover Canada The rights and responsibilities of Citizenship LARGE PRINT 2 3 The Oath of Citizenship I swear (or affirm) That I will be faithful And bear true allegiance To Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second Queen of Canada Her Heirs and Successors And that I will faithfully observe The laws of Canada And fulfil my duties as a Canadian citizen. Le serment de citoyennet Je jure (ou j affirme solennellement) Que je serai fid le Et porterai sinc re all geance Sa Majest la Reine Elizabeth Deux Reine du Canada ses h ritiers et successeurs Que j observerai fid lement les lois du Canada Et que je remplirai loyalement mes obligations de citoyen canadien.

2 4 Understanding the Oath In Canada , we profess our loyalty to a person who represents all Canadians and not to a document such as a constitution, a banner such as a flag, or a geopolitical entity such as a country. In our constitutional monarchy, these elements are encompassed by the Sovereign (Queen or King). It is a remarkably simple yet powerful principle: Canada is personified by the Sovereign just as the Sovereign is personified by Canada . Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada , represented by the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada , 2011 Ci1-11/2012E-LP 978-1-100-20616-5 5 Message to Our Readers Welcome!

3 It took courage to move to a new country. Your decision to apply for citizenship is another big step. You are becoming part of a great tradition that was built by generations of pioneers before you. Once you have met all the legal requirements, we hope to welcome you as a new citizen with all the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. Canada has welcomed generations of newcomers to our shores to help us build a free, law-abiding and prosperous society. For 400 years, settlers and immigrants have contributed to the diversity and richness of our country, which is built on a proud history and a strong identity.

4 Canada is a constitutional monarchy, a parliamentary democracy and a federal state. Canadians are bound together by a shared commitment to the rule of law and to the institutions of parliamentary government. Canadians take pride in their identity and have made sacrifices to defend their way of life. By coming to Canada and taking this important step toward Canadian citizenship, you are helping to write the continuing story of Canada . Immigrants between the ages of 18 and 54 must have adequate knowledge of English or French in order to become Canadian citizens.

5 You must also learn about voting procedures, Canada s history, symbols, democratic institutions, geography, and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. 6 Canadian citizens enjoy many rights , but Canadians also have responsibilities . They must obey Canada s laws and respect the rights and freedoms of others. This Guide will help you prepare to become a Canadian citizen. Good luck! For information about Citizenship and Immigration Canada , visit our website at 7 Contents Applying for rights and responsibilities of Who We Canada s Modern How Canadians Govern Federal The Justice Canadian Canada s Canada s The Atlantic Central The Prairie The West The Northern Study For More Memorable Quotes.

6 128 8 Applying for Citizenship When you apply for citizenship, officials will check your status, verify that you are not prohibited from applying, and ensure that you meet the requirements. Your application may take several months. Please ensure that the Call Centre always has your correct address while your application is being processed. See page 111 for telephone numbers. Picture: Citizens take the oath HOW TO USE THIS BOOKLET TO PREPARE FOR THE CITIZENSHIP TEST This booklet will help you prepare for the citizenship test. You should: Study this Guide ; Ask a friend or family member to help you practise answering questions about Canada ; Call a local school or school board, a college, a community centre or a local organization that provides services to immigrants and ask for information on citizenship classes; 9 Take English or French language classes, which the Government of Canada offers free of charge.

7 ABOUT THE CITIZENSHIP TEST The citizenship test is usually a written test, but it could be an interview. You will be tested on two basic requirements for citizenship: 1) knowledge of Canada and of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, and 2) adequate knowledge of English or French. Adult applicants 55 years of age and over do not need to write the citizenship test. The Citizenship Regulations provide information on how your ability to meet the knowledge of Canada requirement is determined. Information about this requirement can be found on page 64 of the Study Guide .

8 All the citizenship test questions are based on the subject areas noted in the Citizenship Regulations, and all required information is provided in this Study Guide . AFTER THE TEST If you pass the test and meet all the other requirements, you will receive a Notice to Appear to Take the Oath of Citizenship. This document tells you the date, time and place of your citizenship ceremony. 10 At the ceremony, you will: Take the Oath of Citizenship; Sign the oath form; and Receive your Canadian Citizenship Certificate. If you do not pass the test, you will receive a notification indicating the next steps.

9 You are encouraged to bring your family and friends to celebrate this occasion. 11 rights and responsibilities of Citizenship Canadian citizens have rights and responsibilities . These come to us from our history, are secured by Canadian law, and reflect our shared traditions, identity, and values. Canadian law has several sources, including laws passed by Parliament and the provincial legislatures, English common law, the civil code of France and the unwritten constitution that we have inherited from Great Britain. Together, these secure for Canadians an 800-year old tradition of ordered liberty, which dates back to the signing of Magna Carta in 1215 in England (also known as the Great Charter of Freedoms), including: Freedom of conscience and religion; Freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of speech and of the press; Freedom of peaceful assembly; and Freedom of association.

10 Habeas corpus, the right to challenge unlawful detention by the state, comes from English common law. 12 The Constitution of Canada was amended in 1982 to entrench the Canadian Charter of rights and Freedoms, which begins with the words, Whereas Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law. This phrase underlines the importance of religious traditions to Canadian society and the dignity and worth of the human person. The Charter attempts to summarize fundamental freedoms while also setting out additional rights .