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Immigrants fight swearing oath to Queen [Canada]
Toronto Sun ^ | July 12, 2013 | Jenny Yuen

Posted on 07/13/2013 5:09:21 AM PDT by rickmichaels

TORONTO - God Save the Queen — but not everyone in Canada agrees.

Simone Topey is among three plaintiffs — all landed immigrants — involved in a lawsuit to change the Citizenship Act where swearing an oath to the Queen is mandatory in order to gain Canadian citizenship.

Topey came to Canada 35 years ago, and though she feels patriotic towards the country, being Rastafarian she regards Queen Elizabeth as the head of Babylon.

“I have slave descendants … and slavery was headed by the British monarch,” Topey, 46, said Friday outside #30 University Ave. court when asked her biggest problem with the oath.

“Canada is a nation in which you have the right to be yourself, and to be coerced to (pledge allegiance to the Queen) is a violation of rights.”

Lawyer Peter Rosenthal, who is representing all three plaintiffs, said this case is about whether new Canadians who feel it is repugnant to take an oath of allegiance to a monarch should be allowed to be Canadians anyway.

“It’s unconstitutional,” Rosenthal said outside of court. “It violates new Canadians’ rights to freedom of conscience and religion and violates their freedom of expression by forcing them to say an oath they don’t believe in.

“It also restricts them afterwards to have loyalty to a majesty and not join republican movements, for example.”

Another plaintiff, Michael McAteer, 79, said he is a committed republican who came from a family who supported Irish independence from British domination. He’s against the oath because it doesn’t keep with his views of democracy.

“It’s like being a second-class citizen,” McAteer said. “It’s a matter of conscience. I take affirmations seriously and I just couldn’t do it.”

Plaintiff Dror Bar-Natan, 47, considers the oath “repulsive” because it states some people are born with privilege.

However, Kristina Dragaitis, the counsel for the Attorney General of Canada, argued if new Canadians are not willing to comply with regulations, they should not be able to access things such as a passport.

“If you’re not prepared to meet the statutory requirements, those are the costs,” Dragaitis said in court.

Both sides completed their submissions Friday to Justice Ed Morgan, who reserved his decision. There was no word on when a decision will be reached.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada said they will not revamp their policies in the meantime.

“It has been a requirement to swear allegiance to the Queen of Canada, the Head of State of our country, since 1947 when the Act was introduced and there are no plans to change this,” spokesman Glenn Johnson said.


TOPICS: Canada; Culture/Society; Government; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: canada; diversity
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1 posted on 07/13/2013 5:09:21 AM PDT by rickmichaels
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To: rickmichaels

see what happens when you blindly and stupidly accept all immigrants


2 posted on 07/13/2013 5:10:13 AM PDT by yldstrk (My heroes have always been cowboys)
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To: rickmichaels

The rest will lie, and then lie in wait.


3 posted on 07/13/2013 5:11:59 AM PDT by Diogenesis
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To: rickmichaels
Topey came to Canada 35 years ago, and though she feels patriotic towards the country, being Rastafarian she regards Queen Elizabeth as the head of Babylon.

Then go home. Who would want to live in Babylon anyway?

And why would 'Babylon' want her living there?

4 posted on 07/13/2013 5:13:59 AM PDT by Balding_Eagle (When America falls, darkness will cover the face of the earth for a thousand years.)
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To: rickmichaels

To all my Canadian pals, (I’m in BC right now) here it comes...the incremental chipping away is well underway...Mon


5 posted on 07/13/2013 5:16:01 AM PDT by Cuttnhorse
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To: rickmichaels

Kick their asses out of Canada. They’ll always be a drag on societies resources....it’s in their genes.


6 posted on 07/13/2013 5:17:16 AM PDT by IbJensen (Liberals are like Slinkies, good for nothing, but you smile as you push them down the stairs.)
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To: rickmichaels

Canada should hang up the Queen thing.


7 posted on 07/13/2013 5:20:44 AM PDT by brooklyn dave
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To: rickmichaels

“It also restricts them afterwards to have loyalty to a majesty and not join republican movements, for example.”

Yes, peter, that’s the point, peter!


8 posted on 07/13/2013 5:21:17 AM PDT by Postman (.......................................................Boehner - Let the Senate Bill DIE!!!)
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To: rickmichaels

Diversity is their strength.


9 posted on 07/13/2013 5:22:39 AM PDT by Will88
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To: rickmichaels

I’m not a Canadian so my opinion wouldn’t mean much but I can see where Canadians would be of the opinion “you either swear allegiance to the Queen of get the bleep out”.I know that would be my attitude with anyone refusing to promise to protect and defend our Constitution.


10 posted on 07/13/2013 5:25:10 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative (The Civil Servants Are No Longer Servants...Or Civil.)
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To: Balding_Eagle

I had a rustifarion tell me it was ok to smoke pot around his child because it was part of his “religion”, no kidding, I snorted at him “ it’s still illegal”


11 posted on 07/13/2013 5:26:09 AM PDT by yldstrk (My heroes have always been cowboys)
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To: brooklyn dave
Canada should hang up the Queen thing.

I respect the Queen.I think McCartney was probably right to suggest that she's "a pretty nice girl".,,but I'd never swear allegiance to her.But if swearing said allegiance to her works for Canada (which seems to be the case) I can't see any harm in continuing.

12 posted on 07/13/2013 5:31:34 AM PDT by Gay State Conservative (The Civil Servants Are No Longer Servants...Or Civil.)
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To: rickmichaels

Simone should take herself back to Africa, she seems to be an ungrateful NIncumpoop. I have used the N word describing Simone will she sue me ?


13 posted on 07/13/2013 5:52:44 AM PDT by Christian1
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To: rickmichaels

“I have slave descendants … and slavery was headed by the British monarch,” Topey, 46, said Friday outside #30 University Ave. court when asked her biggest problem with the oath.

Actually much slavery was brought about by one tribe of blacks capturing and selling members of other tries of blacks but hey don’t let reality get in the way or your being offended........


14 posted on 07/13/2013 5:56:34 AM PDT by SECURE AMERICA (Where can I go to sign up for the American Revolution 2013 and the Crusades 2013?)
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To: rickmichaels
>>“It’s unconstitutional

Odd comment for a lawyer, as while there is a Charter of Rights and Freedoms, I believe Canada doesn't have a constitution.
15 posted on 07/13/2013 5:59:37 AM PDT by expat1000
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To: rickmichaels

I would never swear allegiance to another being either (except to God), and would certainly never swear allegiance to any earthly king or queen. That said, if the woman doesn’t want to do what is required to become a Canadian citizen, she should just STAY HOME.

Stick by your guns, Canada.


16 posted on 07/13/2013 6:01:51 AM PDT by sneakers
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To: rickmichaels
“I have slave descendants … and slavery was headed by the British monarch,” Topey, 46, said Friday outside #30 University Ave. court when asked her biggest problem with the oath.

How does she know that her descendants will be slaves?

17 posted on 07/13/2013 6:10:42 AM PDT by Fiji Hill
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To: SECURE AMERICA

duh..she has slave descendants?...perhaps a literacy test would suffice...


18 posted on 07/13/2013 6:11:07 AM PDT by randomwalk (Liberalism is a psychosis...)
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To: rickmichaels

Somebody needs to learn the history of slavery.


19 posted on 07/13/2013 6:13:34 AM PDT by Usagi_yo
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To: rickmichaels

Then leave or don’t apply for citizenship


20 posted on 07/13/2013 6:13:48 AM PDT by nuconvert ( Khomeini promised change too // Hail, Chairman O)
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