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Oh Canada! P.E.I. ceremony welcomes over 100 new citizens

Over 100 new Canadian citizens were sworn in during a ceremony Friday at the Rodd Royalty in Charlottetown. Guardian photo

Over 100 new Canadian citizens were sworn in during a ceremony Friday at the Rodd Royalty in Charlottetown.

Published on March 22, 2013
Published on March 22, 2013
Topics :
Charlottetown , Prince Edward Island , Canada

Over 100 people from approximately 34 countries became Canadian citizens today at a ceremony in wintery Charlottetown.

Charlottetown-Lewis Point MLA Kathleen Casey, speaking on behalf of Innovation and Advanced Learning Minister Allen Roach, said the new citizens bring a diversity of skills and experiences to Prince Edward Island.

Casey said that accelerating economic growth depends on the province’s ability to increase its population and meet the labour market needs of the future. She said since 2007, the population has increased by 5.6 per cent, or 7,500 people, the second highest rate of growth in Canada. The average Canadian growth in population is 4.7 per cent.

“As well as bringing their skills and experiences, new Canadians also enrich the cultural fabric of our province," said Casey. “To those who have received their Canadian citizenship today, I extend my best wishes for their continued success.”

 

Comments

  • Username
    Concerned
    - March 23, 2013 at 10:39:55

    The reason unemployment is so high on PEI is not because of immigration, it is because of lack of education which is displayed by the idiotic comments on here. Immigration makes our country money, does not cost a thing. Often immigrants work harder than Canadians because they came from substandard conditions. Also, studies show that immigrants use welfare and EI services far less than people who are citizens by birth. You know who is costing us money? Refuges, but would anybody want to cancel our refuge program? Not me, some people need to be given a chance at a better life, and studies show by the second generation these refuges will pay for themselves, and more. Perhaps people need to look in the mirror, all the welfare collecting products of teen pregnancy are to blame. Drug addicted parents raising drug addicted children.. these are the ones costing the system money. Immigration is necessary to grow the Canadian economy.

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  • Username
    THINK
    - March 22, 2013 at 19:23:32

    Just think people, in nine months plus a day, it will be Christmas Eve. Can't we all get into the spirit of loving others now, a little earlier, greeting them, giving to them, and wishing them well regardless, loving them just because they are there and because we are celebrating LOVE. It costs nothing to try, and we will gain.

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  • Username
    ANGRY PARENT
    - March 22, 2013 at 18:26:34

    DEY TOOK OUR JOBSS!!

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    • Username
      immigrant
      - March 23, 2013 at 18:20:22

      I was one of the people who became a citizen yesterday. I do a job that nobody else will do as its beneath them so I would love to know whose job I am taking?

  • Username
    another new citien
    - March 22, 2013 at 15:31:14

    Excuse me, "Oberst", but immigrants are not receiving any financial assistance from the government - I think you're confusing us with refugees. To immigrate into Canada we have to demonstrate that we can support ourselves financially, either with a job offer, by buying/owning a business here or by having a truckload of money to invest in Canadian businesses.................

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  • Username
    Resident
    - March 22, 2013 at 15:12:20

    To my fellow islanders, who are ignorant to say the least, immigration is the vehicle that continuously propel your entitlement-based lifestyle. Immigrants are the people who,through their hard work, subsidize YOUR pensions, healthcare, and multitude of benefits you enjoy. People immigrate not because they want to be poor, or use public handouts. They immigrate to build a better life for themselves and their families. These are the people that will keep this Island above the water for years to come.

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    • Username
      Bill Kays
      - March 23, 2013 at 17:37:58

      Resident, I am neither ignorant OR UNINFORMED. You sound like a rich person or a crazy person, or both or you work for the gov. Immigration is NOT the vehicle that continuously propels my entitlement based life style because I do not have or want to live an entitlement based lifestyle. Laziness abounds everywhere, immigrants are not immune and some after being here realize they can game the system just like our citizens. They do not subsidize my pension as I do not have one. They are a burden to our already over burdened health care system. Please explain to me the other multitudes of benefits I receive as I do not get any. So I guess they are propping up YOUR PENSION, YOUR ENTITLEMENT BASED LIFESTYLE AND YOUR OTHER MULTITUDES OF BENEFITS. Will they be FAITHFUL SERVANTS, I think so. The politicians are looking for LOYALTY at the voting booth as a trade off.

  • Username
    Welcome to PEI
    - March 22, 2013 at 13:56:44

    On behalf of most Islanders - welcome to PEI! Live long and prosper.

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  • Username
    new citizen
    - March 22, 2013 at 13:55:14

    I was at this ceremony this morning - so I'll try to ignore the negative and anti-immigrant comments from some of you. I'm not taking your job - I'm self employed!! And I pay my taxes, which go towards funding health care, etc, just like everyone else.......but I am disappointed that the Guardian has chosen to basically publish a bit of government spin rather than put in a photo of all the joyful new citizens taking their oath. Some were so happy to be "Canadian" that they were crying. And the Guardian could have mentioned instead that the judge, in her adress to the new citizens, stressed the importance of joining in the democratic process by voting in elections and to help others less fortunate by volunteering. Once again, the Guardian is either lazy, or sucking up to the government, in its reporting.

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    • Username
      new citizen
      - March 24, 2013 at 11:40:22

      Thank you, Guardian, for noticing my comments and taking action to remedy the omissions!!!

  • Username
    tim tonkin
    - March 22, 2013 at 13:47:12

    A familie who have been on Prince Edward Island for 10 or more generations , these people are not native to PEI.because they are not native? Where did the natives come from are they native? How long does a family have to be here to be considered native Islanders?

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  • Username
    johnny cash
    - March 22, 2013 at 13:45:54

    This is what we pay her for (casey),i thought she took her pension and ran. If i called her useless i would be considered to be kind. What a farce this whole immigration thing is . They may be great people but if it costs me,it's a no brainer,serve Canadians first then look outside. No it's not discrimination,we need jobs for existing people before we bring more in to drain our dwindling and mismanaged resources!

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  • Username
    Give your heads a shake
    - March 22, 2013 at 13:44:52

    Dear Starving and Yep: An immigrant or person applying for Canadian citizenship must be a permanent Canadian resident, then must wait three years before applying. After that, which could take many years, or in the case of a child, 18 years, the resident has to fill out forms, study for a test, apply for the test, take the test, pass the test, and only then is he/she sworn in as a Canadian citizen. These folks who were just sworn in did not arrive last week or last year. They've been here for a while and have most likely been working and/or studying here for several years. Some are entrepreneurs who open their own businesses and contribute to Island society in many wonderful ways. Welcome, New Canadians, and Congratulations!

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  • Username
    DK
    - March 22, 2013 at 13:38:19

    I cannot believe the negative and discriminatory comments . There are many Islanders who welcome more culture,more diversity and newcomers to PEI . Welcome and thank you for choosing our province as did numerous others over the years.

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  • Username
    Yep
    - March 22, 2013 at 13:20:46

    Great, now it is going to be more hard for people to get jobs.

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  • Username
    Own islanders starving.
    - March 22, 2013 at 13:13:27

    I cannot see the sense of bringing. In immigrants. To pei when our own is living from check to check,better hope they don't bring medical issues. Here with them ,heaven help our now shambled health care.

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  • Username
    oberst
    - March 22, 2013 at 12:32:58

    Balderdash, Mrs. Casey --- give us an account of what it is costing us?? LaNGUAGE TRAINING, HOUSING ALLOWANCE, WELFARE, EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE -- ON AND ON, BUT OH, DON'T LET THAT COME OUT,- this NEED for immigrants is in the imagination of politicians, pure and simple, so they can cater to business who wants cheap 'grateful' labour. Look after our own, train them and educate them, use the same amount on money on that, and things will fall into place.

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  • Username
    Thomas
    - March 22, 2013 at 12:32:57

    We don't need more people....we need a government that needs to learn how to treat the current population and not have their hands in the pockets of hard working ( when we can find work ) Canadians. Job creation !!!

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  • Username
    DK
    - March 22, 2013 at 12:28:15

    Shame on you JRCK --your ignorance shines through ! The only "native" Islanders are aboriginals --the rest were immigrants . The more diverse PEI can become may eventually lead to decreasing the numbers who think like you . Welcome newcomers to PEI and Canada !

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  • Username
    Welcome
    - March 22, 2013 at 12:11:40

    Welcome friends. I think it is an honor to live in a country where others chose to live.

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  • Bill Kays
    Bill Kays
    - March 22, 2013 at 11:54:46

    Listen people, do you think that Canada did not know 20 years ago that we would be experiencing these labor shortages now? Of course they knew. They pay people (think tanks) to work this crap out. It does not make sense that THEY DID NOT KNOW. Why did they promote smaller families and population control if they knew we would need them now? It does not make sense that THEY DID NOT KNOW. So if they knew, where was / is our protection or the plans to avoid this mess or the mess getting any worse? This means that it is being done on purpose. Those in charge have no real control, meaning they are NOT IN CHARGE of theirs or our destinies. Our puppets in Ottawa are just actors in a terrible sitcom and we are the butt of the jokes. All PEI is now is a training centre for Alberta.

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  • Username
    goodtimes
    - March 22, 2013 at 11:49:40

    Wipe that smile off of your face Kathleen! There is nothing good about this place any more. The middle class and poor are in for a very hard and long road. I for one will never trust another political party as long as I live. At least, our NDP leader had it right. You should have asked the people what they thought about this terrible burden of a tax instead of asking the business people. Your an idiot to think they will pass anything along to the consumer. But I guess we don't know anything, we are just commoners.

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