Canadian Citizenship Ceremony...Congratulations to all new Canadians!

I swear (or affirm) that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Canada, Her Heirs and Successors, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of Canada and fulfil my duties as a Canadian citizen.


This is the oath of citizenship for prospective Canadian citizens. Simple, straightforward and relatively uncomplicated. No duty to bear arms, for example, as in the U.S. citizenship requirements. No allegiance is promised or owed to a religious figure. The Crown represents the state in Canada, and so that oath is of allegiance to the current Queen.
And tomorrow morning, my wife, and at least 80 others will take this oath in Memorial Hall, at City Hall in Kingston, ON.
She will not give up her American citizenship, having been born in Kansas. She will carry dual citizenship, be eligible for two passports and be able to cast her first vote in the Ontario election on October 6.
She studied Canadian history, geography, political structure and current political leadership, some information regarding the economy, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and then wrote a test, to demonstrate her working knowledge of the country's government.
She also passed through other stages along the way to this culminating moment: visitor, landed immigrant, a work visa and finally full citienship.
It is a proud moment in her life and in the lives of her colleagues who will have come from many countries around the world, in search of this new status.
Congratulations, Michelle, and all other candidates whose lives will be part of the Canadian fabric, as will the Canadian culture become an integral part of the fabric of their lives.