Comment of the day: on Canada tightening up its citizenship law as Malta loosens its own
Posted by Louis Amato-Gauci:
MLP propaganda seems to suggest that other countries are chomping at the bit to introduce a clever, money-making scheme just like the IIP. Curiously, Canada, a country that has been one the world’s largest importers of human capital since WWII, is moving in the exact opposite direction.
Under a bill now pending before the House of Commons, would-be citizens of Canada will be required to: (i) reside in Canada for four years out of the preceding six-year period; (ii) be physically in the country for at least half the time in four of those years; and (iii) file Canadian income taxes while waiting to apply for citizenship. In addition, applicants between the ages of 14 and 64 must demonstrate proficiency in one of the two official languages, and pass a written test regarding Canadian history, civics and culture.
Contrast all the bellyaching regarding the need for a true link between Malta and its new would-be citizens, and the deliberate obfuscation and subterfuge regarding the true meaning of residency in the context of Malta’s IIP program, with the following statement by Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister, Chris Alexander: “Requiring physical presence for this length of time in Canada better supports the integration of newcomers in Canadian society. It enables prospective citizens to develop a stronger connection to Canada. It encourages their sense of belonging here and fosters their full participation in Canadian life….”
It goes without saying that the proposed amendments now before the Canadian Parliament will not alter the final requirement for citizenship: an oath of allegiance, that includes a declaration of fealty to the Canadian monarch, and a promise to abide by Canada’s laws and uphold the duties of a Canadian citizen.
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http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawas-citizenship-bill-tightens-rules-for-new-citizens-takes-aim-at-fraud/article16730271/
Unlike Canada, Malta is not really expecting passport buyers to live in Malta.
The government is really after the money – easy money at that – then the new pseudo Maltese citizens will very quickly leave and reside in more glamorous EU cities, returning to Malta only to vote if at all.
After all the minister in charge of education and employment is saying that jobs are being taken by foreigners and Maltese job hunters are left out in the cold.
On a similar note, I was so proud to watch Elise Pelligrin carry the Maltese flag into the Socchi stadium earlier today.
The first ever Maltese participant to take part in the Olympic Winter Games. Due to a Maltese grandfather. Blood relatives really count.
I understand Elise received no support from Malta in pursuing her goal.
Forgot to mention that Elise has both French and Maltese citizenship. All done above board, no money involved.
My Ritienne wanted to join the Maltese curling team. She said she’d done several hairdressing marathons, including Istrina and Puttinu Cares. I just humoured her and helped her fill out the application form.
Your Ritienne should do well, Baxxter, unless he’s asked to show his credentials.
Your wife showed hers and she still failed.
Elise had to go back 6 generations to find Maltese blood. I personally wish her well but she’s French!
Now instead of lobbying for visas, they can just buy Maltese citizenship. As Gaddafi’s men, they are bound to get through any due diligence exercise carried out on behalf of a Labour government.
http://www.independent.com.mt/mobile/2011-08-28/news/joe-sammut-lobbies-for-visas-for-libyan-friends-297856/
If Henley and Partners’ clients need this advice, then Malta’s new citizens are the sort who think it is perfectly normal to bribe officials and use ill-gotten documents to ease their own way.
Now, thanks to Muscat’s vanity and prostration before foreigners, they can do precisely that and call it legitimate.
To coin a phrase, Henley and Partners’ due diligence process is just so much hogwash.
https://www.henleyglobal.com/citizenship-important-points/
Beware of Illegal “Programs”
“The most important criterion for evaluating the usefulness of an alternative citizenship is that it be acquired in accordance with the constitution and laws of the issuing country, i.e. that it be legal. Citizenship documents and passports obtained by illegal means such as bribery are unfortunately not uncommon. In many countries it is possible to make illegal direct payments to corrupt government officials in return for passports and citizenship documents. Holders of such documents run a serious risk of exposure, arrest and deportation. Even in those countries where there are actual provisions in the law which give the Prime Minister or other government ministers relatively wide discretion regarding the granting of citizenship, if any payment is involved it is bribery, a crime in practically every country. This may and frequently does result in the revocation of previously granted citizenship and passports, for example after a change of government. Persons who have acquired documents this way are also frequently blackmailed and forced to pay further “fees” later on. It is therefore crucial that citizenship is obtained on the basis of specific provisions in the law and clear, official procedures.”
Ah.
So that’s where they placed their “caveat emptor” clause.
Fully aware of the failings of their “carry-ons” and programme.
How despicable.
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To Louis Grech who is reported to have said this:
“He dismissed the PN’s insistence that the citizenship scheme did not respect European values, arguing that revenue from the scheme to address poverty, create jobs, ensure that Malta is not held hostage by financial institutions and PREPARE FOR A TIME WHEN MALTA NO LONGER RECEIVES THE EU FUNDS IT IS PRESENTLY GETTING was in line with both Maltese and European values.”
How dare the Malta Labour Party accuse the Opposition of scaremongering when you have ABSOLUTELY NO MANDATE to do what you are doing?
From that perspective, all your acts are illegal.
As a direct parallel: Just because the mafia buys into legit operations that laundered cash goes through doesn’t mean that those operations are valid, stand-alone and legally backed.
So too, any funding this scam provides is tainted, dirty money. Malta should be ashamed to be using it.
The European Parliament did not back this. It is not in line with European values and you have been told this by 560 EPs against 22.
Just in case you missed it, these are my views on the deceitful and totally misrepresented acts of your “Government” operations:
http://daphnecaruanagalizia.com/2014/02/the-point-were-all-missing-henley-partners-now-has-a-vested-commercial-interest-in-keeping-labour-in-power-against-all-odds/
I think we have it in black and white that the Malta Government does not intend the EU relationship as it currently stands to last much longer.
Anyone remember Toni “white blocks” Abela suggesting that the PL would open supermarkets.
He pulled a fast one on us, making us think the PL would be selling groceries, when it was all about passports.
PL = Keith Schembri’s company/ interests in this case.
He’s done it. Expanding rapidly.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20140208/business-news/Next-wave-of-super-rich-migrants-head-for-London.505924#.UvXnE8Id-TM
If electronic voting is introduced for Maltese citizens living elsewhere in the European Union, those who buy a Maltese passport and qualify as ‘pseudo-residents’ will not even have to come to Malta to vote. They can do it long distance.
Electronic voting will be a huge boon to election fraud.
The machinations indicate that somebody within the Labour Party or the Labour Party itself stands to benefit financially from pushing this thing through.
The indications are equally strong that they stand to lose heavily and personally if they don’t push it through, hence the need to keep their contract under wraps.
Didn’t Muscat also sign a long term agreement with China when he was still in Opposition?
See also BBC reporting
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-26078330
Here’s what a Toronto-based law professor says about citizenship ties. The quote appeared in the same Reuters article that quotes a reference to Henley and Partners as pirates of the Caribbean.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/13/us-passport-idUSTRE81B05A201202
“The idea that someone can gain fast-tracked citizenship in a country they have no ties to based on a wire transfer of funds or cash is a far cry from the vision of equal and participatory membership in a political community that is still reflected in many citizenship and naturalization laws,” says Ayelet Shachar, a professor of law, political science and global affairs at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law.
The amendments before the Canadian Parliament are fine-tuning what has been in place for decades.
Emigrants to Canada, with all documents required, are given freedom of movement and not Canadian citizenship, for which they can apply only after five years of living there. For those first five years, they can’t vote because they’re not citizens.
At the ‘citizenship hearing’ that precedes the granting of citizenship, you have to identify all political parties, who their leaders are, who the prime minister is and the leader of the Opposition, as well as naming all provinces and their capital cities.
At one time there was a scheme of giving ‘preference’ to anyone with more than $500,000 to invest and start a business. That too proved to be more of a headache and soon it was found that in some cases the $500K was not all new money coming in, but a contribution from Canadian individuals who sent money to the ‘investor’ who then claimed it was his own.
In this case the cost of gaining residency and ‘jumping the queue’ cost him nothing and the net gain in investment for Canada was zip.
Can we expect anything better from Labour by selling Maltese passports? During Labour’s golden years Maltese passports we easily available to Arab terrorists.
Chris Alexander: “Requiring physical presence for this length of time in Canada better supports the integration of newcomers in Canadian society. It enables prospective citizens to develop a stronger connection to Canada. It encourages their sense of belonging here and fosters their full participation in Canadian life….”
In contrast, the reality of the Malta scheme is that we are not interested in ‘developing a stronger connection,’ ‘encouraging a sense of belonging’ or ‘fostering full participation’ in Maltese life. It is more a case of ‘show (give) us the money and bugger off.’
This item should be recommended reading to anyone who is willing to listen and not blinded by political bias in favour of Joseph Muscat.