Discriminating Aid

From the Globe and Mail:

"Four ways to save money on consular assistance to Canadians abroad"

Senior bureaucrats are advising the federal government to consider scaling back the consular assistance it provides to some Canadians abroad. The suggestions to save money come after a string of recent crises, including one recent 15-month period in which Ottawa helped Canadian citizens – some of whom are seen as maintaining “citizenship of convenience” – in 50 international crises in 36 countries. are some options:

Residency requirement: The Canadian government could decide to limit consular services to Canadians who have lived abroad for shorter periods of time. For instance, Ottawa could opt to provide assistance only to expatriates who have been away for less than five years, which is the same rule for overseas voting.

Tax status: Ottawa could tie consular assistance to expats’ tax status, which is based on residency, a determination that includes whether those living abroad keep homes in Canada, Canadian drivers’ licences or Canadian bank accounts.

Passport choice: The government could provide fewer services for dual nationals who choose to travel or live abroad on another country’s passport.

Non-resident tax: Observers have previously advocated introducing a new tax for Canadians who have been living overseas for a longer period of time, such as charging $500 for a passport.

^ This is one of the dumbest proposals I've heard in a while. Canada is constantly promoting itself as a free society that helps everyone yet they want to discriminate against Canadians that do not live in Canada. It seems to be a trend with Canada. From the 1940s to the 1970s Canadians were not allowed to be dual citizens (despite the majority of other Commonwealth countries allowing it.) Back then you could also loose your Canadian Citizenship by living outside Canada for a certain period of time. Even when Canada "tried" to correct their past mistakes a few years ago by allowing those Canadians that had their citizenship taken from them by the Federal Government to re-claim it they made a provision where native Canadians could not pass on their citizenship to their children if they weren't both born in Canada. Now they want to refuse consular protection to Canadians that don't live in Canada. Why doesn't Canada just build a giant bubble over their country and refuse any of their citizens to leave? The only proposal I agree with here is that if a person enters a country on another passport (not a Canadian one) then they shouldn't be protected by the Canadian Embassy/Government in that country. When I enter the US I have to use my American Passport and am considered American. When I enter Canada I have to use my Canadian Passport and am considered Canadian. If I travel to Europe on my American Passport then I should be considered American there (the same if I enter with my Canadian Passport.) I really hope the Canadian Government (Immigration/Citizenship and Embassies/High Commissions) wake up and stop discriminating against their own citizens. There are more important things that they should be focused on. ^.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/four-ways-to-save-money-on-consular-assistance-to-canadians-abroad/article16324867/