Date: 19991108
Docket: T-315-98
BETWEEN:
SALMA KHALED CHOWDHURY
Applicant
- and -
THE MINISTER OF CITIZENSHIP and IMMIGRATION
Respondent
REASONS FOR ORDER AND ORDER
O"KEEFE, J:
[1] This is an appeal by the applicant from the decision of Citizenship Judge Judy Parish dated February 6, 1998. This appeal is by way of hearing de novo as the Notice of Appeal was dated and filed on February 25, 1998. The new Federal Court Rules which changed the procedure, came into effect on March 25, 1998.
[2] The Citizenship Judge found that the applicant did not have an adequate knowledge of one of the official languages of Canada and that she did not have an adequate knowledge of Canada and the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship. These requirements are in paragraphs 5(1)(d) and (e) of the Citizenship Act R.S.C. 1985, c. C-29 ("Act") and read as follows:
| 5. (1) The Minister shall grant citizenship to any person who
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(d) has an adequate knowledge of one of the official languages of Canada;
(e) has an adequate knowledge of Canada and of the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship; and
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5. (1) Le ministre attribue la citoyenneté à toute personne qui, à la fois_:
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d) a une connaissance suffisante de l'une des langues officielles du Canada;
e) a une connaissance suffisante du Canada et des responsabilités et avantages conférés par la citoyenneté;
...
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[3] The applicant must by law have both an adequate knowledge of one of the official languages of Canada and an adequate knowledge of Canada and of the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship.
[4] The applicant appeared before the Citizenship Judge on January 27, 1998 and before this Court on October 13, 1999.
[5] The applicant gave evidence and was asked questions by the amicus curiae, Mr. Kitogawa. I am satisfied that she has an adequate knowledge of one of the official languages of Canada that being English. She was asked questions such as "How to go shopping for groceries?". Her answer was that she went by bus. She was also asked "What she bought at the store?". She replied that she bought vegetables and baby food. As to her adequate knowledge of Canada, when she was asked bout the provinces of Canada, she said there are ten provinces and the territories. She was asked to name an ocean and she replied "Atlantic Ocean". She also supplied the rights of Canadian Citizens and the name of Canada"s first Prime Minister and current Prime Minister.
[6] I have reviewed sections 14 and 15 of the Citizenship Act Regulations and I am satisfied from the applicants testimony that she satisfies the official languages criteria and the knowledge of Canada and citizenship criteria. These Regulations read as follows:
| 14. The criteria for determining whether a person has an adequate knowledge of one of the official languages of Canada are, based on questions prepared by the Minister,
(a) that the person comprehends, in that language, basic spoken statements and questions; and
(b) that the person can convey orally or in writing, in that language, basic information or answers to questions. SOR/94-442, s. 2.
15. The criteria for determining whether a person has an adequate knowledge of Canada and of the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship are that, based on questions prepared by the Minister, the person has a general understanding of
(a) the right to vote in federal, provincial and municipal elections and the right to run for elected office;
(b) enumerating and voting procedures related to elections; and
(c) one of the following topics, to be included at random in the questions prepared by the Minister, namely,
(i) the chief characteristics of Canadian social and cultural history,
(ii) the chief characteristics of Canadian political history,
(iii) the chief characteristics of Canadian physical and political geography, or
(iv) the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship, other than those referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b). SOR/94-442, s. 3.
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| 14. Une personne possède une connaissance suffisante de l'une des langues officielles au Canada si, à l'aide de questions rédigées par le ministre, il est établi à la fois :
a) qu'elle comprend, dans cette langue, des déclarations et des questions élémentaires;
b) que son expression orale ou écrite dans cette langue lui permet de communiquer des renseignements élémentaires ou de répondre à des questions. DORS/94-442, art. 2.
15. Une personne possède une connaissance suffisante du Canada et des responsabilités et privilèges attachés à la citoyenneté si, à l'aide de questions rédigées par le ministre, elle comprend de façon générale, à la fois :
a) le droit de vote aux élections fédérales, provinciales et municipales et le droit de se porter candidat à une charge élective;
b) les formalités liées au recensement électoral et au vote;
c) l'un des sujets suivants, choisi au hasard parmi des questions rédigées par le ministre :
(i) les principales caractéristiques de l'histoire sociale et culturelle du Canada,
(ii) les principales caractéristiques de l'histoire politique du Canada,
(iii) les principales caractéristiques de la géographie physique et politique du Canada,
(iv) les responsabilités et privilèges attachés à la citoyenneté autres que ceux visés aux alinéas a) et b). DORS/94-442, art. 3.
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[7] Based on the applicant"s testimony I am satisfied that her knowledge and abilities in English have improved to the extent that she now meets both the requirements of paragraphs 5(1)(d ) and (e) of the Act and the appeal is allowed.
ORDER
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
[8] According to these reasons, the appeal is allowed.
"John A. O"Keefe"
J.F.C.C.
Ottawa, Ontario
November 8, 1999
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