CERTIFICATE MEANS SECURITY

Citizenship I.

TE LEARNED something new
today.

On the assumption that “‘it’s
about iime,’’ I'll pass it along in
case there are some of you who are
as uninformed as J was.

There is an invaluadle piece of
identification available to Cana-
dian citizens known as the ‘’Certif-
icate of Canadian Citizenship.”

I knew that something of this
nature existed, but assumed that it
was issued to new Canadians upon
receiving Canadian citizenship.

Wrong.

Any Canadian may apply (cost

zenship. Birth certificates are, so
far, generally accepted, but don’t
rely ona driver’s licence.

However, my guess is that
borders will continue to tighten as
more of us are being asked to show
proof that Canada will take us
back.

Anyone can carry a birth certifi-
cate (or regular citizenship papers
if foreign born).

The difference is that the Certif-
icate of Citizenship is PHOTO
LB.

I could carry a birth certificate
swearing that ! was Mamie Potter,
born in Moose Jaw. As long as

travelwise

and other particulars to follow).

Why would anyone, especially
anyone carrying a valid passport
want to bother? One very simple
answer: travel security.

In many countries, your pass-
port is taken from you upon entry
and only released when you leave.

T have heard some horror stories
about dureaucratic foul-ups with
this system -— travellers who are
stranded at an airport because
their passport was misfiled (and
dozens of other lame excuses). At
least, with the additional proof of
Canadian citizenship you will get
prompt attention from the Cana-
dian authorities.

In many couniries, too, hotels
take charge of your passport —
Italy and Argentina come im-
mediately to mind. In case of any
civil disturbance, you have im-
mediate proof that you are unin-
volved — simply an innocent, law
abiding tourist caught in an unfor-
tunate tourist attraction.

The United States, Mexico and a
lot of the Caribbean islands re-
quire no passports from Canadian
visitors. That doesn’t mean you
may not be asked for proof of citi-

October 11,

Barbara McCreadie

Mamie was the right sex, within a
logical age group and didn’t have
an international bulletin out for
her arrest I’d probably file right
through. How jong do you think
that state of affairs is going to
last?

Travelling with kids, especially
ONE parent, may be cause for
closer scrutiny. Whether we like it
or not, kids are commodities to
some people.

Imagine being stopped at the
border with your toddler — one
who has just discovered the word,
“No.” Although your first im-
pulse might be to leave him there
and Jet the authorities cope, a
surge of parental love quickly steps
in — even if you're right out of
clean diapers and your shirt reeks
of sour milk.

Photo I.D. clinches the birth
certificate and you get to bring him
home even if he’s screaming
“No!” like a hog caller.

When these certificates were in-
troduced eight years ago, someone
got the idea that this was the way
“Big Brother’? was going to keep
his eye on us.

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. can be invaluable

sillier? If B.B. intended to keep his
eye on anyone he’d hardly wait
until that individual applied for a
Certificate of Citizenship. In fact,
he’d probably be twice as likely to
ignore the applicant.

if Big Brother wants to keep his
eye on me, he’s got my permission
— in writing, should he prefer. I
just hope he’s got lots of black
coffee and wakey-wakey pills —
boredom would be part of the job
description,

There’s an old hymn that goes
something like this: ‘‘His eye is on
the sparraw and | know He's wat-
ching me.’’

It’s one you might not think
about unless you’re holed-up in
some foreign hotel while someone
is redecorating the street with
bullet holes.

At that point, the first person
you want to see walking in the
door is ‘‘Big Brother,"’ ready to
wisk you home on a Canadian jet.

I'd like Big Brother to take 2
personal interest in both me and
my family. We tattoo our pet
animals but little kids get lost and
stolen and the authorities have a
hard time identifying them.

If our government could come
up with an invisible-ink tattoo, I’d
go for it, especially for infants and
toddlers.

If we think logically about the
“Big Brother’’ concept, is it possi-
ble that he could overlook any of
us? Do you pay taxcs? Were you
listed in a telephone book? Census
roll? Voters’ list? Mailing list?
Credit agency honor roll?

Did you register your kids in
school? Did you or a member of
your family graduate or receive
any diploma, honor or award?
Win any lottos lately? Had any car

accidents? Bought anything requir-
ing registration?
Even speeding tickets go into a
See Big

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