Multiculturalism & Barriers To CitizenshipAlina Kuiovda Antonieta De Leon Atiqa Majid

Fared Dawod Olga Mykulanynets Cherry TrungJuliet Watson

LIZA FORMANPROFESSOR AT UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO

44 YEARS OLDPERMANENT RESIDENTSTUDIED IN CANADAEMPLOYED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTOAPPLIED FOR CANADIAN CITIZENSHIP IN 2012COMPLETED CITIZENSHIP TEST IN 2014

CANADIAN EXPERIENCE IMPACT CYCLE

Hope of a new life in

Canada

EmployerExploitation

Working- poor or

living below poverty line

Mental Health

Challenges /Family

Support Breakdown

Move Out of Canada/Re

main in Poverty

Language Requirements

Special Test from Authorized testing Centers is required ($200.00)

Language test requirement supports people with higher education

Language testing centers are not easily accessible throughout Canada

CITIZENSHIP APPLICATION FEES

$100

$300

$530

Social Perspective (Multiculturalism)

Two Key components to Citizenship (Legal and Symbolic)Legal Citizenship provides rights for votingSymbolic Citizenship provides feelings of inclusion and integration into Canadian Society and CultureResidents feel disillusioned and unwelcomed in Canada when they are at the last stage of the citizenship process and their applications are placed under reviewResidents feel confusion and emotional stress when dealing with Citizenship and Immigration Canada over the status of their application

Language Barriers

Canadian Experience Application Fees

Citizenship And Immigration CanadaStatistical Data

“Because of our efforts, backlogs are reduced, processing times are improved and more new Canadians are forming a stronger connection to our country.”

Christ Alexander Minster of Immigration

Citizenship At A Glance

Applications R

eceive

d

Ceremonies Completed

New Canadian Citizens

Inventory

Citizenship Applications

201120122013

Citizenship Application Backlog Continuum

Resident applications get triggered and flagged in the systemApplicants are placed back to square one having to prove residency or complete residency questionnaireSystem backlog creates additional hardship for applicants and families trying to settle into Canadian life and cultureSystem perpetuates a cyclical negative impact of emotional stress by placing applicants in a precarious situation where they live in fear of application denial and/or deportation.

:LIZAFORMAN•44 YEARS OLD•PERMANENT RESIDENT•LIVED IN CANADA FOR 12 YEARS•CAN SPEAK AND WRITE ENGLISH•NO CONVICTIONS•UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO PROFESSOR

CIC ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

•18 YEARS OF AGE•PERMANENT RESIDENCY STATUS•RESIDED IN CANADA 3 YEARS OR 1095 DAYS

•MUST HAVE ADEQUATE KNOWLEDGE OF EITHER FRENCH OR ENGLISH

•MUST NOT BE CONVICTED OF AN INDICTABLE OFFENCE OR IN PRISON

•UNDERSTAND CANADIAN HISTORY, VALUES, INSTITUTIONS AND SYMBOLES

CITIZENSHIP

YOU BE THE JUDGE

Create a department that regulates triggered applications at the end of the process and the backlog

Create a pre-eligibility department that provides services that assist applicants

Call center that provides information on the progress or status of citizenship applications

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