Federal Court Decisions

Date: 19971215

Docket: T-1107-96

     IN THE MATTER OF the Citizenship Act,

     R.S.C., 1985, c. C-29.

     AND IN THE MATTER OF an appeal from the

     decision of a Citizenship Judge

     AND IN THE MATTER OF

     MARIEFE A. RESURRECCION,

     Appellant.

     REASONS FOR JUDGMENT

JOYAL, J.

[1]      This young woman from the Philippines came to Canada in 1992 and applied for Canadian citizenship on March 29, 1995. On May 2, 1996, a Citizenship Judge refused her application on grounds of failure to meet the requirements of s.5(1(e) of the Citizenship Act ("the Act"). This provision imposes an adequate knowledge of Canada and of the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship.

[2]      On her appeal before me, heard in Toronto on November 26, 1997, the amicus curiae gently prodded the appellant into responding to a number of fairly simple questions relating to matters Canadian, in an effort to determine if there had been sufficient improvement over the past year to warrant at this time a more favourable consideration of her application. Her responses were disappointing. The amicus curiae did not give up easily, but as he continued to solicit information from the appellant over a fairly wide range of knowledge of Canada, requiring limited exposure or talent to respond, it became clear that the shortcomings of a year earlier had not been overcome.

[3]      It is with regret, therefore, that the appeal must be denied, and so went my Order of November 26, 1997. The appellant has now a better idea of what is required of her in order to pass the citizenship tests. She also now has a better knowledge of where resources and assistance can be obtained, and hopefully will avail herself of these support services. I am sure she will meet with more success when next she applies for Canadian citizenship.

                                 L-Marcel Joyal

                                 J U D G E

O T T A W A, Ontario

December 15, 1997