Lebanon crisis: canadian citizens who chose to live there.
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Location: British Columbia
Posted on: 21-07-06 12:49:20
What are Cd's thoughts about the Canadians stranded in Lebanon who chose to return to their own country once they got canadian citizenship. There was a short article in the globe and mail about this.
Should taxpayers fund the evacuation of people who chose to return to their country rather than stay here?
thoughts?
My thoughts are double sided. On one hand people like the benefits of canadian citizenship but choose not to live here (which I dislike) on the other hand, it is a humanitarian crisis and we should help others.
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~ Morning rain
Location: Western Hemisphere
Posted on: 21-07-06 12:56:23
Quote:
Originally posted by morning_rain
What are Cd's thoughts about the Canadians stranded in Lebanon who chose to return to their own country once they got canadian citizenship. There was a short article in the globe and mail about this.
Should taxpayers fund the evacuation of people who chose to return to their country rather than stay here?
thoughts?
My thoughts are double sided. On one hand people like the benefits of canadian citizenship but choose not to live here (which I dislike) on the other hand, it is a humanitarian crisis and we should help others.
It is the right of the Cdn Citizens to live anywhere in the world according to the Charter of Rights and Freedom and stuff. So, sure they can go anywhere they want.
Having said that, Canada should adopt what the US law already states - mail them the evacuation bill and have them pay for the expenses - just as the US Govt is doing as we speak. Every evacuee has been made to sign a promissory note almost for a $5000 or $4000 USD saying that they will pay once they are back "home" to the US.
Unfortunately, there's a lot of people who get citizenship for convenience sake. And that's not just Cdn citizenship and it's not just people of Lebanese descent.
So, yes, while they have the privilage to run back to Canada, they should also pay for it if they are seeking tax payer funded assistance.
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Dimple2001
I agree with the payment option.T
Taxpayers money should be used for rescuing casual vistors but not people who are living there permanentaly but still have a Canadian passport.
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You know you are a desi when ........ You spew forth the virtues of India, but don't want to live there...............You've never had a tanning salon membership
I agree they should pay.
Garth Turner on ROB TV expressed radical view that Canada should not bother about these people as they chose to live in Lebanon and hence should depend on emergency relief provided by Lebanon govt. He gave analogy of Canadian living in New Orleans. He said we did not send ships to New Orleans. They depended on help provided by American govt. (He was giving hypothetical example. I donot know if there were any Canadian impacted by katrina.)
It is not like they are on a government mission or a temporary job assignment to a foreign country , and things suddenly have gone bad forcing the govt to aitlift them back.
Most of these people have originally come as refugees from the war torn region and went back fully knowing the instabiliy of the region.
So they must pay for the airfare and not the tax payers
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Non illigitamus carborundum
Quote:
Originally posted by morning_rain
My thoughts are double sided. On one hand people like the benefits of canadian citizenship but choose not to live here (which I dislike)
I agree with you to some extent...but i'd rather have them go back where they feel 'at home' than stay behind and be pissed off...you have seen examples of that already. Ideally we should all be world citizens anyway. Living in one huge democratic, multi-cultural utopia sans borders. Its going to happen in exactly 8 and a half days when I get that promised 800 trillion dollars from a friend in Nigeria.
Quote:
on the other hand, it is a humanitarian crisis and we should help others.
At this point I am leaning in this direction. It may seem unfair to me as a taxpayer but I consider it charity. Though I support Israels actions, I hope civilians(even if terrorist sympathisers) can leave with their loved ones, unharmed.
Its all good to say tax payers are being swindled...however, I dont think any child, anywhere in the world, is guilty and should pay for the mistakes of their parents/society/world politics and have to go through the destruction and pain of war. I'm glad Canada can help them even if it means their parents are directly or indirectly(arent we all) to blame for their current situation.
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I agree with Jake.
While I'm not in favour of people who stay in Canada just to get the citizenship and then move somewhere else, they should be rescued on humanitarian grounds, if nothing else.
And I don't think they should be asked to pay to be rescued either. Not everyone can easily afford a few thousand $, especially if they are returning after losing everything. Perhaps people who were rescued can voluntarily contribute if they can afford to, but it shouldn't be mandated. There were reports of a family that paid $3000 for a taxi ride to safety, and another one about a B.C family embarking on a personal journey to Beirut to rescue their family members.
So there are some 40,000 Canadian citizens in Lebanon as per BBC. How much does it cost to rescue them? As a taxpayer, if it costs me a few extra dollars, so be it. Atleast the money has been put to good use.
Let us be proud that Canada is doing its bit to rescue its citizens. It was good to see the Prime Minister himself in the rescue mission, accommodating about 100 people in his plane - even if it is considered a political stunt.
Also, while Lebanese people who hold passports of Canada, US, Australia, UK etc can hope to be rescued, let us also spare a thought for those who actually live there. Wish our governments can do something for them.
