OTTAWA, November 21, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Citizenship and Immigration Canada has apologized to Saskatoon-area MP Maurice Vellacott for prohibiting any mention of God at citizenship ceremonies for new Canadians. Last week, as an upcoming citizenship ceremony was being planned, a staff person in Vellacott’s office asked the local immigration office, “Does he [Vellacott] have speaking responsibilities as part of the ceremony?” The emailed response from an Assistant at Citizenship and Immigration came back: “Yes he brings greetings on behalf of his constituency & congratulations to the new citizens, but there cannot be any referral to God or the bible in his speech.”
The following day, Saskatoon Citizenship manager Garnet Quigley issued an apology saying, “I must also apologize for the wording on the e-mail to which you are referring.” Vellacott accepts the apology and appreciates the quick handling of this matter. Vellacott says that It is entirely in keeping with this purpose to include appropriate references to God. The Department’s Guide itself instructs the new Canadians that “You can either affirm or swear the ‘Oath of Citizenship’ using a holy book. If you wish to swear the Oath, you are encouraged to bring your own holy book as the Citizenship Court may not have one that you will find suitable or that you can keep as a memento” (page 58). During the ceremonies, new Canadians sing Canada’s national anthem, which includes the short prayer to God: “God keep our land, glorious and free.” New Canadians sing this with understanding and pride. Our Charter of Rights and Freedoms also refers to God, declaring God to be the source of human rights by prefacing its list of human rights with these words: “Whereas Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law.…” It is not uncommon for a framed copy of this Charter to be displayed at citizenship ceremonies. Vellacott also noted the many references to God made last week at Remembrance Day ceremonies all across the country. He said, “Canada’s institutions are rich in references to God: they are found in our national anthem, the preamble to the Charter of Rights, the daily prayer beginning Parliamentary sessions, and in our Remembrance Day traditions for remembering our fallen soldiers. Canadians, in their quiet way, wish to recognize the divine blessings that Canada has enjoyed. There are appropriate times and appropriate ways in which to acknowledge this. I have been involved in a number of Citizenship ceremonies, and there has never been a complaint about Canada’s acknowledgment of God. New Canadians already know this about Canada. And they keep coming to this great country.”