LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Reply With QuoteI think he should give up his French citizenship, but it is not my #1 priority. I don't yet know how I'm going to vote, but this would not be the decisive issue for me because I don't think it will make any difference to policy.
YES: There loyalties may be split, and conflicts of interest may arise.
NO: It does not matter, as long as they are worthy of being the leader.
Stephen Dion has a duel citizenship. His mother came from France, so he has a Citizenship for that country, as well as one for Canada. He has said that he does not think it to be an issue
Recently in a CBC interview with Peter Mansbridge, Stephen Dion said that he would only drop his France Citizenship, if it meant getting his party into power.
The big debate going on now, is whether or not a Polician wanting to be the PM, should have a Duel Citizenship.
Does it matter? Should they only have one Citizenship? to Canada the country they want to lead.
Personally, I think that if you want to Lead this country. You must swear allegiance to this country and no other. I dont care if you mother was born somewhere else. I dont think that it is even a matter of how much you love this country.
I just simply think, that you cannot be the PM of this country, while you are also a Citizen of another.
What do you think.
I think he should give up his French citizenship, but it is not my #1 priority. I don't yet know how I'm going to vote, but this would not be the decisive issue for me because I don't think it will make any difference to policy.
I agree, Canadian or French, pick one or the other. Only one allows you to govern Canada, the other just makes you another French citizen.
I think it does make a difference in policy, Dion will simply gravitate to Europe rather than our neighbours to the south to which friendship seems to make you evil!
For once I'd like to hear a valid arguement from the left other than "Harpers an American puppet".
Could be. But do you think his policies would be different if he gave up his French citizenship? I'm inclined to doubt it. I'm still waiting to hear some platforms. I think Harper is doing a fairly good job, some things he does impresses me, others not so much. I am inclined towards re-electing him, but I'm not committed to anything. And I really have no say in anythingI think it does make a difference in policy, Dion will simply gravitate to Europe rather than our neighbours to the south to which friendship seems to make you evil!, my riding in Toronto was supposed to be a bell weather riding but went Liberal and will probably do so again next time, and my Montreal riding always goes Liberal (for which I suppose I am glad because otherwise it would go Bloc).
It could come in handy. Shaukat Aziz holds an American citizenship, and that relationship has only been profitable to Pakistan.Originally Posted by ZFBoxcar
Could be. But do you think his policies would be different if he gave up his French citizenship? I'm inclined to doubt it. I'm still waiting to hear some platforms. I think Harper is doing a fairly good job, some things he does impresses me, others not so much. I am inclined towards re-electing him, but I'm not committed to anything. And I really have no say in anything
I don't question his loyalty as a Prime Minister. America vs Pakistan, I'm pretty sure he'd choose Pakistan. Just that such a situation hasn't arrived yet.
Heh. Interesting question. I'm a triple national myself Spanish/Italian/Canadian, but I never thought about this angle. My first instinct is to go with the first option. He should give up his French citizenship if he's to be PM of Canada.
On the other hand, giving up your citizenship does not mean that you stop feeling some sort of allegiance to the other country. I know that if I ever was in a position to choose one over the others, I would still feel a strong connection to those I gave up. I would still feel as Spanish or as Italian or as Canadian as ever.
Hmm...Tough call. Still, to avoid any unnecessary political controversy, I would still go with option one.
The Devil is in the details.
I think in the case of Dion, this is a non-issue. He did nothing to acquire french citizenship- he got it by default based on maternal citizenship.
He has demonstrated his commitment to Canada in framing the clarity act, despite being seen as a turncoat by some of his hardline "co-provincialists".
Loyalty is an issue of the heart not something attained by juggling citizenship papers.
Let's not be petty-minded.
It's not like he's some freshie who just steamed in from some dubious fundie tourist spot
The emperor has no clothes!
I think in order to lead a country properly you have to be completely devoted to that country and have loyalties to only that country.
What if something happens and you end up with your two countries at war against eachother?
One citizenship for country leaders.
"To dream of the person you would like to be is to waste the person you are."-Sholem Asch
"I always turn to the sports page first, which records people's accomplishments. The front page has nothing but man's failures."-Earl Warren
"I didn't intend for this to take on a political tone. I'm just here for the drugs."-Nancy Reagan, when asked a political question at a "Just Say No" rally
"He no play-a da game, he no make-a da rules."-Earl Butz, on the Pope's attitude toward birth control
Conflict of interest....give up the Citizenship.
A non-issue, Dion will never be PM.
Chimo
Come in handy for what purpose? being able to take shelter in the US Embassy if the $h1t hits the fan??
He should give up his US citizenship if he is for real IMHO!
Don't be so sure, every single Liberal leader in Canada's history has been the PM at some point. Harper has lot a lot of ground in Quebec, and middle class Ontarians just aren't taking to him like he needs. Even Manitoba and Saskatchewan don't like him as much as they used to. Oh I still think there is a decent chance he will make a comeback before the next election, but if the previously mentioned factors allow Dion to put up a good show, he could stick around as leader and win the election after next. Hopefully by that point he will learn to speak English wellA non-issue, Dion will never be PM.
Personally I was aprehensive 2 elections ago about voting for Harper but after two elections of hearing the Liberals using the same scare tactics to disuade voters from voting PC's I decided to vote for Harper. I've been pleasently surprised and found he's done much of what he promised to do, with a minority govt. no less.
The only down side was that bill that cost stock holders quite abit of money.
I personally don't see Dion becoming PM, his current popularity will fade the more he uses the "Harpers pro U.S." scare tactic.
His duel citizenship really wouldn't change his policy's, but it certainly makes them more clear to voters, which in politics is a no no....
Well i really hope that he does not becomg PM. But after the Liberal Leadership race, we all now know that Dion is not to be under-estimated.
Duccepe is threatening to bring down this government in the new year with a non-confidence vote over Afghanistan. Dion has already made it clear that he does not support the mission.
And in the interview with Mansbridge, claimed that he feels he is not bound to the agreement made by Harper to extend the mission to 2009. And would yank our troops out of that country, breaking our promise to NATO, and leaving our allies to die.
Personally, I think that he is a very dangerous, and easily underestimated foe for Harper.
I'm not sure if he ever did give it up or not. I mean the issue has never come up in the media.Come in handy for what purpose? being able to take shelter in the US Embassy if the $h1t hits the fan??
He should give up his US citizenship if he is for real IMHO!
But he's the one who managed to get our exports to America increased. He has gotten us a lot of business with America. I'm concerned about what he does as PM, not what nationality he holds. He's going to be PM for like 2 terms, one's almost over. He might want to use his American nationality then.
Basically everyone with dual nationalities keep one for some sort of financial or strategic gain and the other one's what they feel more closer too. I would be concerned if the other nationality was of an enemy nation.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
Share this thread with friends: