There will be dozens of citizenship ceremonies across Canada today welcoming hundreds of new Canadians into the fold. 

These rites of passage come with cake, warm embraces and a speech from a member of the community welcoming new Canadians. In one town this year Saudi Arabia-born MP Omar Alghabra will be one of those speakers. 

The Natural Resources critic immigrated to Canada in 1989 seeking an education and improved quality of life. 

Alghabra was only 19 and could barely speak English when he took the decision to leave the Saudi Arabian eastern coastal town of al-Khobar and his family behind. 

His Syrian-born parents had been living in Saudi Arabia on an extended work visa for his entire life but were due to bring Alghabra’s three sisters out the following year. 

LANGUAGE SKILLS 

So on his own, Alghabra landed in Toronto, attended Ryerson University, worked on his language skills, and began his degree in mechanical engineering. 

One year into his studies Alghabra’s family decided to return to Syria. 

Facing stark choices, Alghabra made what he describes as one of the toughest decisions of his life: To take Canada over his family. 

“I often say that people like myself, who have lived in other parts of the world, often have a greater appreciation for Canada, and for what Canada offers, than people who were born here,” said Alghabra. 

“We, many of us know, what the outside world offers. And are able to put an appreciation and a value to the differences we see and feel here in Canada.” 

Canada has been good to Alghabra. He quickly found work after finishing his degree and studied part time to attain a MBA from York University. In 1998 he became a Canadian and it is the only passport he currently holds. 

‘EFFORT, ENERGY’ 

In 2006 he crowned his Canadian identity by being elected as a Liberal MP for the riding of Mississauga–Erindale. 

His success at fitting into Canada is an experience and an achievement he tries to impart to other immigrants each year, on Canada Day. 

This year he will once again be addressing the 100 or so new Canadians being sworn in at Mississauga City Hall and showing them, by example, what they too can achieve here.

“I tell people I was in their place one day and they too can be whatever they want to be in Canada including a member of Parliament,” Alghabra explains. 

“In Canada, yes there are obstacles, yes there are challenges and some of them are unfair but by combining effort, energy, honesty and hard work they too can become, or realize, whatever they want.”