Ukrainian News | 26Jul2006 | UkrNews
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Wrzesnewskyj slams Turner over refugee statements

There are no second-class Canadians, MP says.

(UkrNews)-Etobicoke Centre Liberal MP Borys Wrzesneswkyj has slammed Halton's Conservative MP Garth Turner comments questioning whether taxpayers' money should be spent to transport Canadians with dual citizenship from war-torn Lebanon.

In an interview published by The Ottawa Citizen on July 19, 2006, Turner said he sympathizes with constituents who questioned the government decision to lease seven ships and pay transport for all Canadian citizens who want to leave Lebanon, even though many may live there permanently.

An estimated 40,000 Canadian citizens were in Lebanon at the outbreak of war July 12, 2006.

"If the figure of 40,000 is true, there have to be a substantial number who are dual citizens who are living in Lebanon full time," said Turner. "I think all voters and taxpayers would be a little bit concerned about the fact that we are offering transport to these people from a region they voluntarily went to. It's not like they're accidental tourists."

Turner told The Citizen the costly exercise raises the question of whether the government has the responsibility of removing people who are not resident citizens in Canada and added, "I think there's a strong argument to say no."

"Conservative MP Garth Turner should apologize for adding to the anguish of the Lebanese Canadian community and Lebanese Canadians in Lebanon by inferring they are any less Canadian," stated Liberal Associate Critic for Foreign Affairs Wrzesnewskyj in a July 20, 2006 press release.

"I was aghast at the views espoused by Mr. Turner in response to the desperate calls from Canadians trapped in Lebanon," he added.

"Using Mr. Turner's logic, should a devastating hurricane hit Florida the Conservative government would only evacuate Canadian tourists visiting the area, not our 'snowbirds' (Canadian seniors who have taken up residence in Florida), or Canadians doing business there. He also suggested dual citizens not be extended the same humanitarian aid. Would this mean that a child, with dual citizenship, born to a Canadian mother and an American father would be abandoned by our government in a war zone? This is an incredibly slippery slope to step onto, and thankfully our Charter of Rights and Freedoms treats every Canadian equally whether they are Canadian by birth or by choice. There can't be different classes of citizenship," said Wrzesnewskyj.

"Eight Canadians, including four children, have already died in Lebanon and the best that Conservative MPs like Turner can offer is a needless discussion on 'levels of citizenship.' Would he be discussing this if we were dealing with Canadian and British dual citizens? The focus should be on getting all Canadians out of harms way as fast as possible. Mr. Turner invokes the cost to Canadian taxpayers to support his point of view, however, during the tsunami of last year, Canadians and our government demonstrated Canada's generosity of spirit towards the suffering of fellow human beings. What constituency is he pandering to by suggesting Canadian taxpayers should only be covering the cost to save the lives of some Canadians?" concluded Wrzesnewskyj.

Three days earlier, Wrzesnewskyj charged Foreign Minister Peter MacKay's inaction and Prime Minister Stephen Harper's comments have put Canadian lives at risk.

"The only method to safely evacuate is through a ceasefire. Last Friday (July 14, 2006) I urged the Canadian government to undertake immediate and forceful diplomatic action to bring about a 48-hour ceasefire in Lebanon to give Canadians and other foreign nationals a chance to leave the country. Hopes for a ceasefire have been jeopardized by Prime Minister Harper's comments that Israel's response 'has been measured.' This has signalled that Canada supports the continuation of these Israeli actions with thousands of Canadians caught in the middle. Canada used to be seen as an honest broker in the Middle East. Today our ability to speak with all sides has been lost," he said.

In the July 14, 2006 press release, Wrzesnewskyj said he had been contacted by a constituent whose wife Wafaa Kabloui and son Ahmed Himada, were among thousands of Canadians stranded on the ground and trapped in Lebanon.



[W.Z. In my submissions to the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration (CIMM), I have consistently argued that dual or multiple citizenships (or passports) should not be allowed:
"Canada, as well as all countries in the world, should adopt the principle that citizenship cannot be revoked by the state. There should be no stateless person; there should be no person with dual or multiple citizenships. On the other hand, a person should be able to give up his/her citizenship to become a citizen of another country, if that is his/her desire and he/she is accepted by the other country."

The issues raised by Mssrs. Turner and Wrzesnewskyj should be discussed by Canadians from this perspective.]