OTTAWA — Dual citizens say they're concerned the government's new powers to take away Canadian citizenship are stigmatizing certain communities.
Members of the Indian and Filipino communities in particular told the federal government during focus groups late last year they're worried about the long term implications of the new law.
It allows the government to take away Canadian citizenship from any dual citizen found guilty of terrorism, treason and high treason, and spying for a foreign government.
The government argues the provisions are in line with what other countries are doing and those who commit such acts are disloyal.
But focus-group participants said the law has left them wondering whether they should drop their dual citizenship in case the rules eventually expand to encompass other crimes, putting their status as Canadians at risk.
This week at the United Nations, some human rights groups are raising the citizenship revocation powers as part of a discussion of Canada's compliance with international civil rights covenants.
