SQUAMISH, B.C. — A group of university students in Squamish, B.C., is hoping their school work will help change the life of a woman whose Canadian citizenship was stripped under a little-known policy.
Leanne Roderick, an instructor at Quest University, wanted the 20 students in her democracy and justice class to meet someone who was really wrestling with representative democracy in Canada, so she introduced them to a local woman named Byrdie Funk.
Funk was born in Mexico to Canadian parents and moved to a small community in Manitoba when she was two months old. Though her upbringing was quintessentially Canadian, Funk learned earlier this year that her nationality had been revoked.
An unknown number of people born abroad to Canadian parents between 1977 and 1981 were stripped of their nationality because they were unaware of an obscure piece of legislation requiring them to apply to retain their citizenship before the age of 28.
The American election made immigration a popular topic of conversation, and Roderick wanted her students to see how a real person was impacted by government policy.
"To be able to sit down with someone and hear their story, a very real story, I just wanted to put a face on this big issue of citizenship in Canada," she explained.
After Funk spoke to the class, Roderick tasked them with developing a policy brief advising government on how politicians could help so-called lost Canadians.
The results were surprising, the instructor said, with students delivering in-depth, well-researched plans that included suggestions of private members' bills and amendments to the Citizenship Act.
"They really are passionate. I think that age range kind of gets a bad rap sometimes, but they really do care and they really do want to be politically engaged citizens," Roderick said.
Several students forwarded their work to MPs and cabinet ministers, encouraging them to get involved in Funk's case.
Third-year student Ellie Fraser sent her policy brief to four MPs, but said not one responded, even with a note thanking her for writing.
"It really disappointed me that my voice wasn't necessarily heard in this context," Fraser said.
But the 20-year-old said the assignment will still have a lasting impact on her.
"I can definitely see myself as I move forward in life finding issues that I am personally affected by or inspired by and not being as afraid of this hands-on activism, whether I get a response or not," she said.
In his policy brief, 20-year-old Elijah Cetas said the assignment taught him there are things that happen in government that don't make sense and constant civic engagement is necessary to create change.
"To be honest, it's pretty scary that that can happen. But I've also learned that just getting a little bit of motivation and a little bit of communication, things can start to change," said the third-year student, who hails from Portland, Ore.
Being the subject of the assignment was a bit overwhelming, but it was also an honour, Funk said.
"It feels really great to have people support you and even advocate for you," she said.
Funk said there are politicians working on her case, and it's validating to have other people stand up and say that her case constitutes an injustice.
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