I am Canadian.

So it turns out I’m not fit to serve as Prime Minister. Or even as a lowly MP. I’m sure it’s no surprise to anyone who’s spoken to me for more than 30 seconds, but it’s the reason I’m not fit that’s got me in a bit of a snit. I was born in Canada, raised in Canada, educated and employed in Canada too. I’ve paid all my taxes in Canada to Canadian governments. I know the words to ‘O Canada’ in both official languages (did I mention I’m fluent in both of ‘em, too?), as well as the official bilingual version. I’ve lived in Canada my whole life, never leaving the country for more 6 weeks (and that was 20 years ago!). I won’t shop at Wal-Mart (preferring Zellers – it’s Canadian), and my paper cup says Tim Horton’s (only because it’s hard to find a Second Cup drive-thru). I love the Senators , Habs, and Rush (April Wine’s another story) and I’ve never been arrested (much less convicted of anything). So by now you must be wondering just what the hell (besides my attitude and propensity for cursing) could render me unfit to serve my country as a member of Parliament?

My dual citizenship, that’s what. You see, a few years ago, I decided to apply for Spanish citizenship. My family’s Spanish (I’m of the first generation lucky enough to be born in Canada). My dad came to Canada in the mid 50’s because Spain was a toilet back in those days, run by an embarrassment of a dictator. There weren’t any good jobs, and people were starving. My dad got a line on an opportunity to move to Canada, so knowing nothing about winter and lots about starving, he packed up and crossed the Atlantic to start a new life for his wife, daughter and extended family that he’d left behind while he set things up over here. Fast forward 20 years or so, and we’re all set up comfortably. Dad’s got a career, mom’s got food in the fridge, and sis has 3 siblings. Life’s good. And it’s ALL THANKS TO CANADA. You’ll have to forgive the caps, but capital letters is a good approximation of the importance my mom and dad placed on that statement. Everything we have is thanks to the opportunity Canada gave us. Our home, clothing, food, car, cottage, education, health care, all of it. Thanks to this awesome country that saw fit to welcome my family with open arms. To this day, my dad will not put up with anyone talking poorly of Canada. It’s a very good way to make him yell and turn his face red. Even now that he’s retired and moved back to Spain (the dictator’s dead, and there’s food a-plenty), my dad is a very proud Canadian, as he insists my entire family should be.

So why the dual citizenship? Well it’s for 2 reasons: First, it’s out of respect for my culture and heritage. My parents raised us as Spanish-Canadians. Before I started school, I was already reading and speaking in Spanish. We ate Spanish food (as well as Canadian) at home. Our holidays were a mash-up of Canadian and Spanish traditions, we vacationed in Spain. I’ve always identified very strongly with both my Canadian identity and my Spanish heritage and it’s important to me that my future kids know where their history is and that they’re Spanish as well as Canadian. The passing of my mother and the fact that my father’s getting older and may not live to see my kids (at the pace I’m going) were 2 factors that made me really think about my heritage, how much it means to me and how important it is for me to pass it on to my children. And as the older generation slowly but certainly passes away, the direct links to my ancestral homeland become fewer and fewer. So I sought to reinforce those links by becoming a Spanish citizen.

The other reason is a matter of practicality. Spanish citizenship is European citizenship, and having that, I can work anywhere in Europe. No jumping through hoops (well not as many). While I currently have no plans to leave Canada, it seems common sense to keep as many doors open as possible. If I were to be given an incredible job opportunity in Europe, it’d be nice to know that I can accept and pursue it without having to go through all sorts of immigration hassles.

So that’s all there is to it. There’s no nefarious plot. No secret loathing of Canada. I’m not spying for anyone. Culture and opportunity. The only 2 reasons I have dual citizenship. No big deal? Not so fast.

Seems we have a new Liberal leader, and he’s not the guy the Tories were expecting to win the leadership. The Conservatives were all set with their planned attacks for Michael Ignatieff or Bob Rae, but they didn’t have anything they could really nail Stephane Dion with. So Ezra Levant, as big a steaming turd disguised as a human being as you’ll ever find, went to work. Without anything of real substance to nail him on, Ezra focused in on the fact that Dion has dual French/Canadian citizenship. And the media decided that without anything else to question him over, they’d also pursue the dual citizenship storyline. Apparently, if you have dual citizenship, you’re not sufficiently loyal to Canada and are plotting to somehow destroy the country from within. The NDP have, in their constant battle for airtime and attention, decided to jump on and question Mr. Dion as well. And much to my chagrin, Mr. Dion has said that if it’s a problem, he’ll renounce his French citizenship. What he should have said was “I’m Canadian first and always, and anyone who says that my dual citizenship compromises me and my ability to serve Canada is nothing but an ignorant xenophobe.” Case closed.

So for the past few days, I’ve been seeing the attacks, and the snide remarks all over the web and in the papers. I take them personally because I love Canada, and for someone who’s never even met me to say otherwise for no other reason than because I have a Spanish passport is disgusting beyond words. I’m Canadian. I love Canada. I shouldn’t have to say that, but lately, a few ignorant shit-disturbers have made it necessary for me to state that for all to see. For all of you who say that I shouldn’t have dual citizenship, Well I’m sorry. I’m sorry that I take pride in my heritage and culture. I’m sorry that my family hasn’t been here for 200 years. I’m sorry that I decided to do what I could to give myself as many options for my future as I could. But I’m not sorry for having 2 passports. And I never will be. For those of you who say that I’m somehow not fit to serve in Parliament, well you’re wrong. I’m Canadian. With all the rights, responsibilities and privileges that go with that. And it’s my right to serve my country in Parliament if I so choose. And to those who would take that right from me, and this means you Ezra Levant, well I’d like to see you try. C’mon. Say it to my face. I dare you.

And for the NDPers and tories who have played along with this shameful farce? Shame on you for disgracing parliament with this hateful, xenophobic line of attack. Have you no decency? Especially the NDP, who for a long time have had the support of immigrants and dual-citizens to thank for their few accomplishments. I will never, ever vote NDP or Conservative. Not now that they’ve made me feel a second-class citizen in my own country. And if a law is ever passed that would take away my dual citizenship, or prevent me from enjoying the rights and freedoms promised to all Canadians, well it’ll be the Canadian passport that I’ll hand in. I won’t need it as the Canada I know and love will have ceased to exist, replaced by a suspicious, xenophobic, closed minded ignorant imitation of Canada. One which I’d be embarassed to be a citizen of.