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Media Release S.U.C.C.E.S.S.’s Submission to CIC on Citizenship Application Language Requirements 
| S.U.C.C.E.S.S.’s Submission to CIC on Citizenship Application Language Requirements |
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For Immediate Release S.U.C.C.E.S.S. made submission to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) on Proposed Change to Citizenship Application Language Requirements
Vancouver, BC - Minister Jason Kenney released a proposal October 15, 2011 on possible change to the language requirements for making Citizenship application and asked the public to provide input within 30 days. On November 11, 2011, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. submitted the following viewpoints in response to the government Notice of Intent published in the Canada Gazette: • Proficiency in one or both of the official languages is a critical success factor for newcomers and members of our multicultural communities alike to re-establish themselves and participate fully in every aspect of their lives in this host country. A common language promotes common values, unity, national identity and nationhood. • CIC needs to clarify on who can provide the third party objective evidences to the citizenship applicants meeting the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 requirement in speaking and listening skills. CIC also needs to provide details on the implementation and verification of the proposed change. • S.U.C.C.E.S.S. recommends established government funded immigrant agency English Language Services for Adults (ELSA) /Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) providers be given the funding support to be the authorized CLB assessment centers to provide the certification. • The contents of the citizenship study guide and written knowledge test (currently in CLB 7 in reading and writing) should move toward simple and plain language to enhance comprehension and be consistent with the CLB 4 speaking and listening intended level in order to capture the applicants’ real understanding of what matters most to Canadian Citizenship and nationhood. To mention the least, we do not want the language and the written test to become a barrier to integration. • The language exemption of immigrant seniors of 55+ is a demonstration of the generous inclusiveness of Canada’s citizenship requirement and great understanding of the hardship of learning a new language for certain segments of people in this country. We would like the exemption to extend to immigrant adults with learning disabilities, speaking impairments and mental health challenges. • Avoid duplication and redundancy assessment methods on same issue or situation of using one objective and one subjective standard on the same applicant in the Citizenship application and assessment process. S.U.C.C.E.S.S. recommends using the total objective method of government authorized third-party certification and do away with the subjective judgment by a CIC official or a citizenship judge altogether.
The full text of S.U.C.C.E.S.S.’s submission is attached. **********
S.U.C.C.E.S.S. has years of experience in providing government funded English language training services to immigrant adults of any ethnic origins. Its ELSA program curriculum span from pre-literacy to Level 5. The organization encourages adult immigrants to learn or upgrade the English language and urges the multi-cultural communities to get involved in voluntary services, public affairs and political participation in every opportunity. -30-
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| Last Updated ( Monday, 14 November 2011 ) |
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