Citizenship guide changes worthless

The Liberal government’s reported changes to Canada’s citizenship guide appear to be yet another instance of politically correct, feel good signalling winning over pragmatic public policy.

A draft version of the new guide, as reported by The Canadian Press, reveals Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government has “completely overhauled” the study document used by prospective citizenship applicants preparing for their test.

The guide now stresses the importance of Canada’s relationship with Indigenous Peoples, which we certainly support in spirit. But the document in places seems preoccupied with virtue signalling.

“Today, Canadians, for example, can own their own homes and buy land thanks to treaties that the government negotiated,” the draft notes. “Every Canadian has responsibilities under those treaties as well. They are agreements of honour.”

This is a somewhat ironic statement to make as official policy, seeing as the federal government is still engaging in a significant number of legal disputes involving treaties.

It’s doubly ironic given that federal governments of every political stripe, stretching back many decades, have failed to deal with a host of chronic issues facing First Nations, ranging from inadequate housing and water to high unemployment and suicide rates.

The truth is this latest guide is more a meaningless feel good gesture that serves no one except perhaps the government’s political agenda.

Meanwhile, the Liberals have taken out the section explaining that “barbaric cultural practices” such as honour killings and female genital mutilation are not accepted in Canada.

While the Liberals used such items as wedge issues during the last election, the government is keenly aware these are real concerns impacting women around the world.

New Canadians come from jurisdictions where these practices are tolerated, and in some cases accepted and even encouraged.

It’s important that immigrants coming to Canada fully appreciate their obligations in a secular democracy where women’s rights are equal to men’s.

If we are to give newcomers the information they need to thrive here — which is one role of this guide — we are obliged to tell them about how Canada’s cultural norms differ from those of other countries’.

Our citizenship guide must strive to be an accurate depiction of the roles and responsibilities of new Canadians.

It shouldn’t be used as yet another government spin document. — Postmedia News