For the record, I did not get the PSA that other people have been getting in the mail

[james_davis_nicoll]

Apparently there are new rules for voting here in Canada. One wonders what the intention is, given that we've not had a huge problem with people voting under false names in previous elections.

When you vote, you MUST prove your identity and address. You have three options:



1: Provide one original piece of identification issued by a government or government agency containing your photo, name and address.

Examples
Driver’s Licence
Health Card
This applies only to Ontario
Note: Not all electors in Ontario will have cards with photo, name and address
Provincial/Territorial Identification Card (non-drivers) for the provinces/territories of
Newfoundland and Labrador
Prince Edward Island
Nova Scotia
New Brunswick
Alberta
British Columbia
Northwest Territories

2: Provide two original pieces of identification authorized by the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada. Both pieces must contain your name, and one must also contain your address. Here is the list:

Identity Cards
Health Card
Social Insurance Number Card
Birth Certificate
Driver’s Licence
Canadian Passport
Certificate of Indian Status
Certificate of Canadian Citizenship or Citizenship Card
Credit/Debit Card with elector name
Canadian Forces Identity Card
Veterans Affairs Canada Health Card
Employee Card issued by employer
Old Age Security Identification Card
Public Transportation Card
Student ID Card
Library Card
Liquor Identification Card
Canadian Blood Services/Héma-Québec Card
Hospital Card
Fishing Licence
Wildlife Identification Card
Hunting Licence
Firearm Acquisition Card/Firearm Possession Card
Outdoors Card and Licences
Provincial/Territorial Identification Card
Local Community Service Centre Card (CLSC)
Original documents (containing name and address)
Credit Card Statement
Bank Statement
Utility Bill (residential telephone, cable TV, public utilities commission, hydro, gas or water)
Attestation of Residence issued by the responsible authority of an Indian band or reserve
Local Property Tax Assessment
School, College or University Report Card or Transcript
Residential Lease, Residential Mortgage Statement or Agreement
Canada Child Tax Benefit Statement
Income Tax Assessment Notice
Insurance Policy
Government Cheque or Government Cheque Stub with elector name
Statement of Employment Insurance Benefits Paid (T4E)
Canada Pension Plan Statement of Contributions/Quebec Pension Plan Statement of Participation
Statement of Old Age Security (T4A) or Statement of Canada Pension Plan Benefits (T4AP)
Statement of Benefits from provincial workplace safety or insurance board
Statement of Direct Deposit for provincial works or provincial disability support program
Vehicle Ownership
Vehicle Insurance
Attestation of Residence issued by the responsible authorities (shelters, soup kitchens, student/senior residences, long-term care facilities)
Letter from public curator

Note: A document bearing an address may be used as proof of the elector’s address if this address was written by the issuer of the document and is the same as or consistent with the address on the list of electors. No document other than those included on this list may be accepted to establish the name and address of an elector.

3: You can be vouched for by an elector whose name appears on the list of electors in the same polling division and who has an acceptable piece or pieces of identification. Both will be required to make a sworn statement. An elector cannot vouch for more than one person, and the person who has been vouched for cannot vouch for another elector.

Comments

[xinef.livejournal.com]

It is actually difficult these days to lose one's birth citizenship. I know that Canada recognizes dual citizenship. The US was forced to a number of years ago, as well.

[tsm-in-toronto.livejournal.com]

Actually, dual (or other multiple) citizenship isn't up to a country to acknowledge or recognize, as such. If country A says you are a citizen, and country B does also, country B cannot decide you are not a citizen of country A, only that you are not a citizen of country B.

That is, Canada could decide (it hasn't) that acceptance of (say) US citizenship voided your Canadian citizenship, but it can't tell you that you are not (or that you are) a US citizen. And visa versa.

He wrote, semi-incoherently.

Put more simply, citizenship is always a matter of domestic law.

IANAL, and this commentary of mine is worth every penny you paid for it.

Cheers.

[ookpik.livejournal.com]

A performer (singer-songwriter) whom I saw recently mentioned that she holds dual citizenship (child of US parents, born in Quebec). Recently she did a concert tour in Europe, during which her US passport was stolen, so she used her Canadian passport as ID when returning to the US.

She was detained at Customs for several hours by a Homeland Security goon who indignantly informed her that the US "does not recognize dual citizenship" and went on a tirade that included "and if we went to war with Canada, whose side would you be on?"

I don't know what her actual response was, but when she told the story she grinned ruefully and said "hmmm...good question."

[xinef.livejournal.com]

True. The US used to automatically revoke citizenship if you took citizenship in another country. No longer the case. My mother lost her US citizenship when she took Canadian citizenship in the early 70s. She's since gotten it back and has a current US passport.

I currently have two valid passports, one US and one Canadian, and could hold a third, UK. I was born in England and my mother registered me with the US as a child born of a US parent overseas. Came to Canada as a child and was made a Canadian citizen when my parents did so in the early 70s. Since I had no active part in that, the US didn't consider that I did anything to lose my US citizenship.