Wariness of dual citizenship a parochial trait not befitting of Canadians

Why would new Liberal leader Stéphane Dion's dual citizenship of Canada and France make any Canadians feel insecure? Surely the reaction of this small minority can indeed be labelled as insecurity, if they are calling for him to renounce his French citizenship.

Canada is a young country, at least to those who aren't aboriginals. And we're all immigrants - including our Aboriginals. As such, Canada is very diverse, cosmopolitan, and multi-cultural. Because many Canadians' roots in this country go back only a handful of generations, it is understandable that they still have emotional (or even tangible) bonds with other countries, cultures and languages.

Why should we feel threatened by this reality? I would argue that this fact about the Canadian people is a strength, rather than a weakness. We are the most effectively multi-cultural country in the world - period. Having ties to literally every country on the planet gives us respect, ensures our opinions are listened to by the international community, and awards tremendous economic strength in terms of international economics.

Surely it is only the most parochial and provincial of Canadians who feels threatened by this reality, those who may never have bothered to venture outside of Canada's borders, and who see citizens of other countries as "the enemy".

As has been pointed out by many fellow bloggers already, former Canadian prime minister John Turner was born in the UK and held dual citizenship, and this was never an issue during his leadership of the country. And as the CBC pointed out on Friday, Dion is one among at least a dozen current Canadian MPs currently holding dual citizenship. Why single out Dion?

Since 15 February 1977, the Citizenship Act permits the holding of dual or multiple state citizenships. And many Canadians do just that. Why should we allow some rights for average citizens, and yet deny those to our leaders? If we don't find it a threat for ordinary Canadians to hold more than one passport, why do we suddenly panic when our leaders have them? Surely a single standard should be equally applied to all Canadians - not just legally as it does in the Citizenship Act, but also in terms of the rights of others that we as a society cherish and respect in an informal/unofficial manner.

Current Governor General Michaëlle Jean started an unfortunate precedent, when he renounced her French citizenship on 23 September 2005, "...in light of the responsibilities related to the function of Governor General of Canada and Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Forces." While French law does forbid French citizens from holding government or military positions in other countries, the France government was willing to wave this requirement for Jean, in light of her post being primarily ceremonial. Unfortunately, Jean still choose to renounce her French citizenship.

And thus the current "controversy" regarding Dion and his dual citizenship with France.

If anyone should have qualms regarding Dion's dual citizenship, if should be the French, given their civil code forbidding French citizens from holding government or military positions in other countries. But it is bizarre why such exclamations would come from fellow Canadians. Do we really doubt his loyalty to this country, as the leader of Canada's largest political party? Aren't his public statements that he is "100 per cent loyal to Canada" enough to conquer any doubts? Do we expect Stéphane to get a maple leaf tattooed on his left butt cheek before we believe his commitment to this country?

Let's all put these discussions into greater perspective before we open up yet another unimportant, intangible, and emotional debate that distracts us from the primary issues of governance at hand here in Canada.