Department of Justice | 24May2007 | Rob Nicholson
http://canada.justice.gc.ca/en/news/nr/2007/doc_32018.html

CITIZENSHIP OF INDIVIDUALS REVOKED

OTTAWA, May 24, 2007 – The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., MP for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced that the Government of Canada has revoked the citizenship of two individuals. Both cases had been heard by the Federal Court of Canada and the Court found that these individuals obtained their citizenship through false representation or fraud or by knowingly concealing material circumstances in connection with their entry into Canada after World War II.

Following a review and decision by Governor in Council, Jacob Fast and Helmut Oberlander have had their citizenship revoked.

"Canada's New Government has been clear in its support of human rights and our international obligations: Canada will not become a safe haven for anyone who has been involved in war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide, " said Minister Nicholson. "We take these issues very seriously."

"These cases have been under consideration for a very long time," added Minister Nicholson. " Due process was followed according to the laws of Canada; it is time to move forward. "

The Citizenship Act provides for the revocation of citizenship of persons who have obtained their citizenship or permanent residence status through misrepresentation or fraudulent means.

For World War II-related cases, the process of citizenship revocation is initiated only when there is evidence of involvement or complicity in war crimes or crimes against humanity, as well as misrepresentation or fraud. Citizenship revocation cases take considerable time to complete, and involve collecting information and evidence from a number of sources, both domestic and international.

Although no appeal is permitted on the original finding of facts by the Federal Court, any individual whose citizenship has been revoked has the right to a judicial review by the Federal Court of whether the Governor in Council decision was lawful.

Since 1977, the Government of Canada has revoked citizenship in 54 cases. Seven of these have been related to the Second World War.

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See attached Backgrounders on:

* The Revocation of Citizenship
* Canada's War Crimes Program
* Citizenship of Individuals

Ref.:

Geneviève Breton
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Justice
613-992-4621

Media Relations
Department of Justice Canada
613-957-4207

Media Relations
Citizenship and Immigration
613-952-1650


[W.Z. It is my understanding that the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Diane Finley, submitted recommendations to "Cabinet" that the citizenship of Helmut Oberlander, Jacob Fast, Vladimir Katriuk and Wasyl Odynsky be revoked. This "Cabinet committee" (of unknown composition) met secretly on 17May2007 and decided to revoke the citizenship's of Mssrs. Oberlander and Fast, but not that of Mssrs. Katriuk and Odynsky, who received letters stating that their citizenship would not be revoked.

It is not clear why Mr. Nicholson delayed his press release until 24May2007, when he was in Germany attending a gathering of G8 justice and security officials. It is also not clear why Mr. Nicholson did not mention the decision with respect to Mssrs. Katriuk and Odynsky in his press release.

Finally, we are surprised that such a press release describing the decisions of the 17May2007 secret "Cabinet committee" meeting was not issued by Diane Finley, since this is strictly a Citizenship and Immigration matter and has nothing to do with justice and/or war crimes. What business has Rob Nicholson issuing a press release on this matter? Once again, the bureaucrats and politicians promoting the d&d policy are fraudulently equating immigration infractions with war criminality.]