Ottawa, July 29, 2011 — Today, 1,140 individuals from 104 countries will attend citizenship ceremonies across Canada, where they will take the oath of Canadian citizenship, bear true allegiance to the Queen of Canada, and thus become citizens of our great country. In return for this oath, these new Canadians receive the guarantee of our freedom, democracy and constitutional rights reaching back to the Magna Carta.
“For new Canadians, the day they take the oath of citizenship and join our dominion as full citizens is a special day,” said Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney. “During these citizenship ceremonies, we are reminded of the value of our citizenship. We celebrate our many freedoms and rights, as well as our history, symbols, events, people, institutions and values that define us as Canadians and give us our identity.”
Eight Members of Parliament and Senators will be representing Minister Kenney at these ceremonies. These parliamentarians will welcome new Canadians and will thank them for choosing Canada.
Since 2006, Canada has welcomed about 254,000 immigrants per year, the highest average under any Government in Canadian history. Last year, 144,000 of these immigrants became Canadian citizens.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada hosts citizenship ceremonies – a newcomer’s formal entry into the Canadian family – throughout the year. These ceremonies are significant events in the lives of applicants and the starting point to a promising future in their new home.
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For further information (media only), please contact:
Candice Malcolm
Minister’s Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650
CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca
