OTTAWA,
ON, May 13, 2024 /CNW/ - The Honourable Marc
Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, issued
the following statement to mark the start of Citizenship Week,
which runs from May 13 to 19,
2024:
"Citizenship Week gives us all an opportunity to reflect on what
it means to be Canadian and give back to our communities. It's a
chance to be proud of our diversity, inclusivity and
multiculturalism, and acknowledge the rights and responsibilities
we all share as Canadian citizens. A vital part of being Canadian
is understanding the history and reality of Indigenous Peoples and
their integral role in this country's past, present and future.
"This coming week, I have the honour of attending citizenship
ceremonies in local communities where we will welcome new citizens
to the Canadian family. From British
Columbia to Nova Scotia, I look forward to meeting new
Canadians from across the country, and visiting local organizations
that provide assistance to newcomers by offering a range of
services from official language training to finding employment. I
encourage Canadians to attend one of the many citizenship
ceremonies open to the public taking place this week and throughout
the year across Canada. It is
truly a great privilege to witness one of the most significant
moments in a newcomer's life: becoming a Canadian.
"We have a lot to celebrate this year. From April 1, 2023, to March
31, 2024, we welcomed 393,500 new Canadian citizens. We have
made significant strides, and we are now processing most new
citizenship applications much faster.
"I encourage you to join me in celebrating Citizenship
Week by reflecting on what being Canadian means to you. Use
the hashtags #CitizenshipWeek and #MyCitizenship to
share stories about Canadian pride and citizenship in your
communities. You can also get involved in your community to make a
difference. That can mean voting in elections, volunteering,
speaking up about issues that matter to you, or working with others
to improve your communities.
"Let's look for other ways to celebrate our country and our
shared Canadian identity—not just this week, but every week."
SOURCE Citizenship and Immigration Canada