Comments on: Comment of the day: on Canada tightening up its citizenship law as Malta loosens its own

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 19 Feb 2014 01:16:30 +0000

In reply to Harry Purdie. Elise had to go back 6 generations to find Maltese blood. I personally wish her well but she's French!

By: Evarist Saliba

Evarist Saliba — Sun, 09 Feb 2014 15:01:51 +0000

This item should be recommended reading to anyone who is willing to listen and not blinded by political bias in favour of Joseph Muscat.

By: ken il malti

ken il malti — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 21:11:22 +0000

In reply to Tom Double Thumb. Electronic voting will be a huge boon to election fraud.

By: Rumplestiltskin

Rumplestiltskin — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 17:58:24 +0000

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.’

By: Tabatha White

Tabatha White — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 17:28:14 +0000

In reply to Joe Micallef. PL = Keith Schembri's company/ interests in this case. He's done it. Expanding rapidly.

By: Gladio

Gladio — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 16:44:02 +0000

Can we expect anything better from Labour by selling Maltese passports? During Labour’s golden years Maltese passports we easily available to Arab terrorists.

By: Angus Black

Angus Black — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 15:48:50 +0000

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.

By: La Redoute

La Redoute — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 15:29:28 +0000

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.

By: H.P. Baxxter

H.P. Baxxter — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 13:28:57 +0000

In reply to Harry Purdie. Your wife showed hers and she still failed.

By: kev

kev — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 13:15:27 +0000

In reply to Harry Purdie. Your Ritienne should do well, Baxxter, unless he's asked to show his credentials.