Immigration minister introduces a Bill to amend the Citizenship Act to change the wording of Canada citizenship oath to include words about indigenous peoples
The Canadian Bazaar
TORONTO: Canada’s new oath for citizenship will now include words about the rights of indigenous peoples and read like this:
“I swear (or affirm) that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Canada, Her Heirs and Successors, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of Canada, including the Constitution, which recognizes and affirms the Aboriginal and treaty rights of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples, and fulfill my duties as a Canadian citizen.”
Marco Mendicino, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, introduced a Bill today to amend the Citizenship Act to include these words about the rights of indigenous peoples in the Canada citizenship oath.
The minister said, “The Government of Canada remains committed to walking the shared path of reconciliation with indigenous peoples. The proposed amendment to the Citizenship Act is one more vital step towards reconciliation, and demonstrates the government’s commitment to the findings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.”
He said, “With this amendment, we are changing the oath of citizenship to be more inclusive, and taking steps to fundamentally transform the nature of our relationship with indigenous peoples by encouraging new Canadians to fully appreciate and respect the significant role of indigenous peoples in forming Canada’s fabric and identity.”
READ NEXT: 5 best professions for immigration to Canada
