Bill to Strip Citizenship for Treason

[Kavvy]

It is a private members bill, but I can't say I am against it.

Overwhelming majority supports revoking citizenship for Canadians who commit treason: poll

http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/10...-treason-poll/


One thing (the first concern which came to my mind is covered):

only Canadians who are also citizens of another country would lose their status as Canadians

And I can't say I am against this at all, Canadian Forces deserve as much special treatment as they can get:

Another section of the bill would allow permanent residents serving in the Canadian Forces to apply for citizenship after two years, rather than the required three. Few non-Canadians serve in the forces, although those with specialized skills are sometimes brought in.

I might also argue that to me it seems so rare this law might actually be used, is it worth while having it on the books (other than the Canadian Forces thing)

[REDVAN]

I don't think non-citizens should be in the military. That seems like a big treaosn risk itself.

[chemgear]

What happened to death?

[Senator Clay Davis]

Honestly when was the last time someone was actually charged with treason in this country? The government doesn't have more important things to focus on than this?

[crazy_eoj]

They should change it to include anyone who attacks our allies under certain circumstances.

The Omar Khadr law.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Honestly when was the last time someone was actually charged with treason in this country? The government doesn't have more important things to focus on than this?

You come pretty close with cases like Jeff Delisle. I suspect this was one of the main impetus' for getting this bill into motion. Omer Khadr as well.

[Redliner]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Honestly when was the last time someone was actually charged with treason in this country? The government doesn't have more important things to focus on than this?

ACTUALLY charged? Who knows.

I can think of an entire province full of people who SHOULD be charged.

[Canuck-Hater]

As long as the politicians are held to the same standards as citizens, Im all for it.

[Jacks]

Not sure if this is a good idea or not. If the other country decides not to accept the person then what happens? It sounds like a good idea but I'm not sure how well it would work in practice. AFAIK Khadr is a Canadian citizen only so he would not be affected.

[Locke]

Revoking citizenship for Treason?

That sounds shockingly reasonable. If you screw us, then GTFO.

[puckluck2]

Good law as long as the person has another country they call home. Just because someone has citizenship in another country doesn't mean they wanted to be there or wanted to have citizenship there.

Sometimes the parents will get citizenship for their kids at a very young age.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by REDVAN

I don't think non-citizens should be in the military. That seems like a big treaosn risk itself.

I was a non-citizen, and did my tour when I was a non-citizen.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Honestly when was the last time someone was actually charged with treason in this country? The government doesn't have more important things to focus on than this?

crazy_eoj hit on the reason. Omar Khadr. It has been speculated that if he knew his actions would result in the targeting of Canadian soldiers, he could theoretically be brought up on charges of treason.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by REDVAN

I don't think non-citizens should be in the military. That seems like a big treaosn risk itself.

Not really. Armies throughout history have enjoyed volunteers from other nations. Notably in Canadian history, volunteers fought in the US Civil War and the Boer War.Americans volunteered in the British forces in WWII before the US joined.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Not really. Armies throughout history have enjoyed volunteers from other nations. Notably in Canadian history, volunteers fought in the US Civil War and the Boer War.Americans volunteered in the British forces in WWII before the US joined.

and these dudes

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Iginla

Good law as long as the person has another country they call home. Just because someone has citizenship in another country doesn't mean they wanted to be there or wanted to have citizenship there.

Sometimes the parents will get citizenship for their kids at a very young age.

I dont understand that. If someone were to commit Treason against Canada who cares if they have somewhere to go?

They dont have to go home, but they cant stay here.

I think its a very reasonable policy. Most countries would just execute them, so giving them the boot and not caring where they land doesnt seem unreasonable.

[GP_Matt]

How can a law have two penalties based on where a person is from? Someone who was borne in Canada receives a lesser punishment than someone who happens to have two passports.

I would have a hard time supporting something that creates two levels of citizenship. Now if we could find a way to strip someone of their citizenship after they have cleared security at an airport so that when they land in whatever country they choose they become like Tom Hanks in The Terminal then I could support it.

[Resolute 14]

No country has an obligation to allow a non-citizen into its territory. Simply stripping the citizenship of someone without another country to call home is pointless, as nobody would take the person in. They'd still be stuck on Canadian soil.

[crazy_eoj]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

crazy_eoj hit on the reason. Omar Khadr. It has been speculated that if he knew his actions would result in the targeting of Canadian soldiers, he could theoretically be brought up on charges of treason.

I think he can be brought up on charges of treason by attacking any of our allies as well... hopefully we can see this in effect.

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Honestly when was the last time someone was actually charged with treason in this country? The government doesn't have more important things to focus on than this?

Why is this always your attitude? ... as in why bother making changes to the law unless we are in a crisis situation because surely there is something more important that needs to be done?
Has the government EVER done anything that you agree with?

As to your actual question....

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-s...y-hearing.html

Technically he wasn't charged with treason... but he may as well have and could have been...

CBC News Posted: Oct 10, 2012 8:06 AM AT

Canadian Forces Sub-Lt. Jeffrey Paul Delisle walked into the Russian Embassy in Ottawa in 2007 and offered to sell secrets to that country's military intelligence agency, beginning an espionage career that lasted almost four years, according to court details revealed by CBC News after the naval officer pleaded guilty to spying.

Delisle, 41, pleaded guilty in a Halifax court Wednesday to breach of trust and two counts of passing information to a foreign entity between July 2007 and Jan. 13, 2011, in Ottawa and Kingston, Ont., and Halifax and Bedford, N.S., where he lived.

Jeffrey Delisle: What's known about the naval officer turned spy
According to previously unpublished material from a bail hearing, Delisle walked into the embassy wearing a red ball cap and civilian clothes. He flashed his Canadian military identification and asked to meet with someone from GRU, the Russian military intelligence.