The unfolding crisis in Lebanon that launched the largest evacuation operation conducted by the Canadian government has stirred a lot of heated debate. The extensive and difficult evacuation process that, to date, has rescued more than 13,000 Canadians, generated some questions about whether the Canadian government should help Canadians who are abroad and who hold dual citizenship.

Some have labeled Canadians with dual citizenship who live overseas as “part-time” Canadians and undeserving of government assistance. There is the argument that when a Canadian chooses to reside abroad, and pay little or no Canadian taxes during that period, they should not expect any assistance from Canada. There is also an idea that because some carry dual citizenship, their first loyalty is not to Canada and hence, the Canadian government has no obligation to help them.

Before engaging in this debate, it has to be clearly stated that there has been no evidence as to what percentage of Canadians who were in Lebanon at the start of the crisis were permanent residents of Lebanon or were there on summer vacation.

The champions of this debate have been raising many questions which branch out into various and sometimes irrelevant topics. I am going to try to dissect the different aspects of this discussion so that we can accurately analyze the substance of the issues without emotion and rhetoric.

Citizenship Acquisition: The conversation over the process of acquiring citizenship and the types of requirements one is expected to comply with before becoming a Canadian citizen is a healthy one. I am sure there are ways to improve the existing process and I welcome a national discussion on the matter. However, once an individual legally becomes a Canadian citizen, we must refrain from questioning the authenticity of their citizenship.

Fraud: An investigation into how some people may acquire Canadian citizenship through fraudulent or deceptive means is necessary. The rules are clear about how one can earn Canadian citizenship and anyone who obtains citizenship by breaking any of those rules must accept the consequences of judicial accountability, including possible revocation. Nevertheless, we should not treat the majority of new Canadians with suspicion simply because a few have abused the system.

Dual Citizenship: Should a Canadian citizen be required to renounce their other citizenships to prove their loyalty to Canada? This question stems from an attitude that Canadians are not accustomed to. Canadians as a society have grown over the years by the nature of our diversity and respect for one another. Millions of Canadians were born abroad and many others hold dual citizenship through their parents. Loyalty should never be measured with a piece of paper like a citizenship document. The concept of loyalty is one that is abstract and expressed through practice and behaviour. While this is another healthy debate, we must not lose sight of the reality of our collective identity.

Government’s Obligation to Canadians Abroad: The question of a government’s obligation to assist its citizens when caught in international disaster areas is another important debate. However, it should never be constrained by the amount of taxes an individual pays. The relationship between a government and its citizens should not be defined as a linear financial transaction. Canadians have always believed that our country should be committed to equality and fairness to all citizens regardless of income or background. We have to consider what type of assistance a government should provide its citizens, but once that is determined, it should never be selectively based on income, taxes paid, place of residency or dual citizenship. The assistance needs to be standardized to all Canadians or we risk the creation of a ‘second–class’ type of citizenship that many Canadians would not find acceptable.

It is unfortunate that some people chose to exploit the human tragedy in the Middle East to promote divisive ideas. There are many legitimate and important questions that Canadians and their political representatives need to revisit and reassess. Yet, in this discussion, we must also be mindful of the timing and tone adopted by some. There are approaches which could feed into an attitude of hostility and suspicion against an innocent group of people who are proud Canadians and whose dedication to this country has been demonstrated over and over again. I am not just referring to Lebanese-Canadians. I am talking about Canadians who hold dual citizenship, Canadians who were born abroad and Canadians who reside abroad.

Canadians should not be made to feel guilty for choosing to work or reside abroad. These are personal choices that many people make based on their own differing circumstances.

Our commitment to maintaining a citizenship that does not discriminate based on place of birth, ethnicity, religion, income, place of residency and background should remain an integral part of our proud identity.