Discover Canada team receives a Public Service Award of Excellence

Posted on October 25, 2011 by admin

Canada’s citizenship guide, which helps newcomers prepare for the citizenship test and informs Canadians about their rights and responsibilities, had not been revised since 1995. The job assigned to the Discover Canada Citizenship Guide Team was immense. How do you accurately reflect Canadian values and expectations of citizenship? How do you decide what key events form Canada’s history and whose interpretation of these events to use?

Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship is a first-class publication. Written in simple language, the text is authoritative and honest, and respects the reader. It conveys, without embellishment, a great deal of information about such key areas as Canada’s history, geography, industry, business and society. It also highlights the important issues and values that have played and will continue to play a part in shaping this country, without ignoring difficult issues, such as cultural practices that are not acceptable in Canada and our involvement in the three major wars of the last century.

One of the keys to the team’s success was the strong relationships it developed. Consulting broadly across departments and with outside experts helped ensure the integrity and balance of the guide, as well as its credibility. Another key was the team’s focus on risk mitigation. Although the team was responsive to comments and criticisms, it found the right balance between acceptance and rejection of the various content and language issues that arose.

The Discover Canada Citizenship Guide Team deserves our praise for this excellent guide that gives new and established Canadians a real sense of our country.

Nominated by Les Linklater, Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic and Program Policy, Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

(c) Government of Canada

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Test Canada Re-Launches the Training Packages

Posted on September 21, 2011 by admin

At TestCanada.com we are happy to announce the re-launch of our Training packages with a more accessible price and format new features for our customers.

We are moving to a three options package to address your needs. It is known to us that many of our customers purchase our package to round up the study process  just for a few days. This is why we developed two limited time frame package to address this need and a unlimited use one for our demanding customers.

Now you will be able to choose between a Light, a Basic and a Complete training package to help you prepare for the Canadian Citizenship Test. Each package contains different features to address your study preparations.

The Light Package is a fast and fun kit that will give you access to the study guide, a PDF containing questions, tests by chapter and also allow you to run 5 real test simulations. This package holds the most relevant 300 questions for the citizenship test. The Light Package can be used for three days after the first log in, designed for our customers that like to keep things simple.

Our Basic Package is what we call intensive citizenship training. Made from 500 questions that will prepare you for the test, it gives you the chance to cover the whole material in just a few steps. The Basic Kit includes 10 real test simulations, “by chapter” and “custom” tests and our brand new feature “Test History”.

Test History is the result of our customer feedback suggestions and a deep analysis of the citizenship examination. This is the best way to walk you through the important dates and years in the study guide and help you memorize them successfully.

The Basic Package also provides the customer with a complete result analysis and a completion certificate. It is also designed for our new generation customers allowing them to study on their Mobile Device! The Basic Kit is valid for 7 days after the registration is completed.

Finally we offer the Complete Package for our most demanding customers. The complete Kit is the best choice if you want to study from scratch and manage your own time. With unlimited time and real test simulations, a deep result analysis and a 700 question database, the Complete Kit represent the best training option. You will have access to all of our features including History Test, mobile Training, iPod Version, Gap Detector and an audio Version. It also offers the Express training feature that allows you to narrow the database to the 200 questions most likely to appear on the citizenship test.

The Complete Kit also includes Daily Test feature. We will send you a 20 questions test every day to you email address so you don’t forget to practice and train for the citizenship test. We also offer Local Support Groups where you can communicate with people from your same residence area that are preparing the test just like you.

Find the best training choice for your needs and let us be part of your journey towards your Canadian citizenship.

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Historic Citizenship Award Ceremony in Canada

Posted on May 18, 2011 by admin

Planed for Saturday, June 25th, the citizenship and immigration Canada along with the Musqueam Indian Band will be holding an historic citizenship award ceremony in the Musqueam Indian lands. Never seen before in Canada an Indian reservoir intends to reach out to new immigrants and share Canadian pride from its very origin. New citizens will enjoy a celebration like no other, an evening to remember.

“The history of First Nations’ relationship with the Canadian government hasn’t always been a good one, with some of the policies that were put in place — the assimilation policies and things of that nature,” said Wade Grant, Musqueam Indian Band councilor and business operations coordinator.

Back in the 19th century Canada’s government started an assimilation program with regional schools that basically destroyed aboriginal language and culture, To this date Canada blames itself for this atrocity. This is an attempt of reconciliation between the Musquean people and the Canadian government.

“New comers are poorly informed about their aboriginal cultures, we believe that these cultures are very important in building the Canadian spirit and pride. This way we are attempting to show new citizens a small bit of rich native cultures”, said Grant.

“There is this notion about aborigines, close and shy not willing to be included in society and unreachable and we’re not,” he added.

The ceremony will be hosting 50 new citizens in June from the Vancouver area. The new Canadians will be enjoying a full day of activities in a citizenship ceremony like no other. Being the Musqueam community even more tolerant to immigrants than the Vancouver community is the greatest pleasure to share some of their rich culture with new citizens.

“This is only the first of many ceremonies we intend to hold, thanks to the institute of Canadian Citizenship for the help” said Grant.

Slowly they intend to include themselves in the Canadian society as proud citizens.

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Candidates for Citizenship Worried Over Voter Cards

Posted on April 19, 2011 by admin

As you may well know only Canadian citizens are able to vote in federal elections. Voting is one of the core democratic rights that come with the Canadian citizenship and is a responsibility. Voting illegally results in a criminal charge and a possible conviction for the perpetrator.

Surprise stroke Helene Darnet when she found a voter card in the mail. She has been living in Calgary for 4 years now as a permanent resident and applying for citizenship. Originally from France she just took the citizenship test where clearly stated voting as a citizenship right that PR’s obviously don’t hold.

“They said I was not supposed to have this card, so they asked my name, address and everything so they can delete my name from the list,” said Darnet.

Worried she called the citizenship and immigration Canada department to clarify the situation. She was requested to confirm address and identity for a double check. The error was found and she was removed from the voters list, however this rises a concern for other candidates to citizenship. The CIC representative told Ms Darnet that she was not the only person calling for this matter.

“Being on the list doesn’t necessarily mean that I can say that you are a qualified voter and the obligation for the voter is to see that that gets corrected,” he said.

What if an uninformed PR voted? This could jeopardize the whole citizenship application. Even though the error was made at the citizenship and Immigration office the illegal action of voting is punishable and can ruin a citizenship application almost instantly.

Word came from Halifax and Melbourne with similar stories regarding Voting Cards for non-citizens. Minister Kenney Has not made any statement about the issue.

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Citizenship and Immigration Canada will be helping LGBT Refugees

Posted on April 5, 2011 by admin

The minister of citizenship and immigration Jason Kenney announced a pilot where Canada will be assisting LGBT refugees persecuted in their home countries. In association with the Rainbow Refugee Committee, Canada will be sponsoring refugees from all over the globe.

Kenney stated that immigration and citizenship department will be directing $100,000 CAD in assistance to cover the first three months of expenses the refugees may have upon arriving Canada while the Rainbow Committee will be responsible of addressing their accommodations, food, orientation and other basic needs.

The Rainbow association is responsible of getting in contact with private entities and handle the sponsorship and asylum applications. Sponsors will provide financial support for not more than the first year of settlement in Canada.

Might this be related to the recent change to the citizenship test study guide? Just recently Minister Kenney announced an update of the Discover Canada guide that included gay and lesbian rights in Canadian law and marriage. Anything to do with a Spring election?

Posted in Citizenship Rights, News | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Changes to the Citizenship Test and the Discover Canada Guide

Posted on March 15, 2011 by admin

The citizenship test is about to change ones more. As many of you may remember the last mayor change to the test was back in 2009 with the implementation of the actual study guide Discover Canada. However the changes to the citizenship test where applied much later than that in October 2008 with the abolition of the mandatory questions and the change of the Test questions to mirror the new guide and its content.

Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney made announced a new turn in the Discover Canada study book and an impact to the citizenship test. The guide will be enhanced in a few topics that reflect Canadian way of life in the actuality. Among them the emphasis in Canadian democratic principles like the recognition of the Gay and lesbian couple marriage sharing the same rights as any other couple. Kenney also referred to the no toleration campaign to force marriages and fraud in Canadian soil.

The announcement was made at a citizenship ceremony held in Vancouver for 45 new Canadians. This new change has been revised by public figures, authors, historians have been consulted.

“We expect people who want to become Canadians to have a good understanding of their rights and responsibilities and the values and institutions that are rooted in Canada’s history,” said the minister in the announcement.

The truth is that the guide is rad by students, professionals of every sector and entire families. It is important that the new Canadians understand and embrace Canadian Values and democratic rights more if they are going through the naturalization process.

Minister Kenney outlined a few changes in the Discover Canada Resource book, however there is no notion about when these changes will be effective and the impact in the citizenship test. The changes include a new section called Becoming canadian that emphasizes the new comers need to embrace Canadian democratic responsibilities, recognition that gay and lesbian Canadians are protected under equal treatment under the law with access to civic marriage. Also a strong statement about forced marriages with a no tolerance policy. There will be an addition to the 1812 War section, which celebrates its bicentennial next year and how it shaped Canada as of this day. There will be an update onto the Modern Canada section with new public figures and important accomplishments in economic and trade growth.

Early this year Kenney announced that the 2010 was the record year of settlement in Canada from the past decade. More than 280,600 new settlers arrived Canada to stay which will impact in anew citizens in future years. The estimate for 2011 is 265,000 newcomers.

Posted in Canadian Test, News | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Canada Recognized by it’s Immigrant Integration Approach

Posted on March 1, 2011 by admin

Canada has been congratulated by the MIPEX (Migration Integration Policy Index) as one of the top 10 countries that reaches out to help integration to their immigrants. The MIPEX analyzes Canadian resources to assist new residents and citizens in comparison to other 31 European and North American countries.

MIPEX is a consultant company dedicated to analyze the immigration strategies such as the facilities each country has in maters of Visas, Residencies and naturalization processes. In general they review the eligibility, citizenship application parameters and processes for immigrants. The results show Canada as the third country following Sweden and Portugal.

Canada was applauded by the effort put into immigrant integration through their citizenship courses and testing. We also received a strong input in our now recently applied government recognition of immigrants education and credentials. Canada had the record immigration numbers in 57 years in 2009 that registered a total of 280,000 newcomers to the country.

The study does not include the immigrant experience through the process. It only evaluates the tools the nation has to assist them. Among the research categories where: Family reunion possibilities, access to education, labour market mobility, possibility of permanent residency, citizenship and political rights.

Canada scored pretty well from most of the categories reaching a 72 points score out of 100. The strong areas where: labour insertion, since Canada gives immigrants the same privileges to establish in any sector as Canadian Citizens have; Integration, because of the resources given to future citizens on regards of study material, however some comment were made that major cities with big immigration rates should implement better citizenship programs such as courses or assisted language learning programs. However Canada already has the “English as Second Language Program” for children, a similar program for adults could shorten the difference with Sweden score.

Canada’s opportunities where found in the waiting time for their citizenship and residency applications. Right now the country has a 9 month backlog of applications waiting to be approved or rejected which increases the discomfort of the immigrant population and jeopardizes their satisfaction. This is nothing more than a political issue, Canada could increase the number of citizenship judges and CIC employees to shorten the time frames we currently have to address the matter. However the citizenship test has been highly ranked by the agency as one of the most through and complete ones among the 31 tested countries.

The focus for the new cycle is immigrant satisfaction. Are newcomers satisfied with the Canadian assistance throughout the integration process? Are we doing enough to help these people and recognize their skilled status among Canadians? Should we open citizenship courses to prepare them for the Canadian Test not only in major immigration rate cities but through all the country?

All good questions, we will be here waiting for the results. Congratulations Canada for a great job!

Resources: MIPEX (Migration Integration Policy Index)

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Citizenship in the Newspaper

Posted on February 15, 2011 by GeorgeR

I was reading the newspaper this morning and it was completely clear to me how Canadian citizenship is part of our every day life. It is something we all enjoy every single day but don’t realize, the truth is that we breath, walk, dream Canadian while others just longer and longer to get here. It really doesn’t matter how much you like your town or your country, how much snow there was this winter, and we all know a lot this year, being Canadian is such a pleasure. We oftentimes have to see the US mocking of our culture, but believe me when I say it is just envy.

One of the articles I was reviewing this morning was the realization from a reporter about how Canadian way f life modifies people to the point that they become more Canadians than actual Canuk. An Argentine Family invites this reporter to witness their citizenship ceremony at the Ottawa citizenship center. However they know that it will be a hard snowy day and many people may not come. However they still show the relevance of the event by inviting their dear friends to celebrate their achievement, they are finally Canadians. The reporter is amazed by the fact that his friend, as every one of us, underestimates the snow and goes to the center on foot against all odds instead of rescheduling the ceremony. A truly Canadian example he says. Is it? Would we do the same on Canadian Day?

In the other hand a very sad story. Miss Jacky Scott, 65, being denied citizenship because of a silly law from 1947 which states that children of Canadian soldiers stationed overseas are chatter of their foreign mothers and not their veteran fathers if the children where born out of wedlock before 1947. She lived in Canada since the age of two and her parents married in Canada right after they moved in. All started when Jacky went to renew her passport and she couldn’t proof her citizenship. Being the only one in the family who is not Canadian Jacky is stripped from her pension, extension of the social care and so on. Makes me realize how important is to be Canadian and be able to demonstrate that state.

I imagine myself at 50 and not beig able to find my birth certificate. After paying taxes, working and contributing to new canadians most of my life. Not being able the access all the benefits of being Canadian, being forced to start a Naturalization process, not being a Permanent resident. Restarting the application over and over again since my papers cannot be found. Nightmare.

Bottom line, Canadian citizenship is something we enjoy every day and we really didn’t know it is there. We use it, breath it and rely on it from the very start of our lives without any doubt is ours. Its a living being that qualify us as and makes us who we are. Can’t imagine living without it. Just a thought out of the air.

Posted in Citizenship Rights, Opinion | 5 Comments

The Canadian Citizenship Test and the Inspiration to Return to Studies

Posted on January 24, 2011 by admin

Sometimes, approaching a test as an adult can seem like an unwelcome return to one’s day spent in school, when testing was a common and possibly unpleasant experience. Whether greeted with anticipation or dread, however, the Canadian citizenship test is an exam that can hold a great deal of meaning for test-takers, as it represents a major step in the process of becoming an Canadian. Studying and preparing for the Canadian citizenship test can be as involved as the test taker desires, though of course more concentrated and serious preparation, ideally with the help of a professional organization familiar with the test, is likely to yield more positive results. When test takers approach the Canadian citizenship test with enthusiasm and a genuine desire to learn about the country’s past, its laws, and its culture, however, they may find that their educational interests are sparked, potentially leading to an inspiration to take part in higher education once established as a citizen.

As one of the world’s leading countries for education, Canada has many fine institutions of various levels of competitiveness and concentrations, and students of any field are sure to find a number of options for exploring subjects of interest and potentially enrolling in a new degree or certification program. Often, new citizens in Canada have a strong interest in developing their career within the country, and taking advantage of Canada’s excellent network of schools can help satisfy the desire for learning and personal development while also providing greater opportunities for work in the future. Whether for a fast-paced career in the sciences involving hands-on research, business and administrative courses that interact with Canada’s large professional workforce, an interest in the performing arts that takes advantage of the country’s vibrant theatre and dance scenes, or other personal interests, continuing studies in Canada can be a highly rewarding decision.

In some cases, new citizens may simply be interested in learning more about their new home, from its distant past and indigenous peoples to its modern architectural and cultural accomplishments. Discovering facts and ideas about these topics, along with other central issues such as modern government, can come naturally as new citizens become more familiar with the country and interact with their fellows. Special introductory courses or fully-fledged university classes covering such topics, however, may be of interest to new citizens who want to kick-start and enrich their understanding of and involvement with the country itself.

No matter the reasoning behind a new citizen’s desire to experience Canada as a student as well as a resident, support from the community and the country is sure to be found. From moral support offered by school counselors and other resources to the availability of financial aid and loans for students, those who pursue academics after they take the Canadian citizenship test will find that the country is a welcoming and convenient place to learn.

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Learning the Anthem After the Canadian Citizenship Test

Posted on January 8, 2011 by admin
Among the many new things to explore and learn when becoming a new citizen of a given country, the national anthem is one of the most important and can also lend a great sense of belonging and national identity to a recent immigrant. Those who journey to Canada in the quest to become a Canadian will find that the country’s national anthem is fairly simple and easy to learn, and those who take the time to understand and memorize the lyrics are likely to experience a sense of respect and friendship among their fellow citizens. The Canadian national anthem is sung prior to most major sporting events, and may also appear on special national holidays or at national celebrations. With versions in both French and English, the most common version is an English translation of the French original which bears some resemblance to the first draft of the piece, though its similarities are not exact. After passing the Canadian citizenship test and settling into a new home and daily life, new Canadians can learn the national anthem ìO, Canadaî to help solidify their new status and incorporate national traditions into their own consciousness.

The Canadian national anthem was first created in the late nineteenth century with the composition of a piece of music to go with a poem that had previously been written by a poet and judge. The modern version of the anthem, however, was not officially recognized until as late as 1980, though various forms of the song were used as standard anthems leading up to this point. Most modern immigrants interested in Canada are likely to recognize the modern version of the anthem, either from popular culture or through the presentation of medals accompanying the song at the Olympics.

A fairly short song comprise of only one verse, the Canadian national anthem isn’t too challenging to learn, and newcomers are likely to find that native Canadians are more than happy to help with lyrics or with the melody of the piece when asked. After taking the Canadian citizenship test and holding a successful interview with a citizenship judge, immigrants are invited to a citizenship ceremony, and are likely to encounter the anthem during this special event. Being well-prepared to join in and sing the anthem can lend special meaning and sentiment to the ceremony, and is bound the make the experience feel more personal.

As one of the most well-known national anthems in the world, ìO, Canadaî is a popular tune that some immigrants will discover they already know, for the most part, upon arrival. Whether brushing up on the lyrics or learning the song for the first time,, however, new citizens who become acquainted with the Canadian national anthem are likely to discover that the simple fact of knowing and occasionally joining in on a round of the song can instill a great sense of national pride and belonging in the heart and mind of any newcomer.

Posted in Canadian Life | Tagged , , | 5 Comments