I think nationality is a big deal because the CF does not want people who may/may not have decided to live in a country just to exploit its social benefits, or because their own country is "worse". Becoming a citizen of a country means that you have proven yourself willing to share the values and ideals of the country; which is the reason the CF exists in the first place.
Ummmm, actually, I‘ve never even thought about benefitting from the social programs in Canada, not even medical. I‘m not here to exploit anyone. I pay, and for 2 years now, have paid for my insurance and all medical expenses, etc. I‘ve also paid taxes, and benefited your country and its various businesses.
What I‘m trying to say is that if someone has no one in the country and has come as a tourist, that‘s an exaggeration and the application should be rejected. But someone who has lived in Canada for 4 years, paid taxes, got his/her post-secondary education in Canada, volunteered, and moreover has close relatives who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents in the process of getting Citizenship, as well as himself/herself is in the process of applying for immigration and is VERY likely to get it, should be given the *chance* to join the forces, on the condition that he/she has already applied for immigration. I‘m talking about giving a *chance* instead of throwing someone‘s application away or not even sending an application.
And of course, MOST people come to a country because they want to improve their situation, and not particularly because they want to "enrich" Canada‘s culture. In my case, it‘s because I have relatives here, including my grandmother, aunt, and cousin, and my sister has already applied for immigration and her papers are being processed. It‘s also because I have lived in Canada for 2 years, and I love the culture and want to be a part of it. It‘s not rocket science. It‘s just plain, simple reasons and objectives. Would the immigration department reject someone who has all her family in Canada? I don‘t think so - otherwise, all the other applications would be rejected if an application like mine is rejected. So technically, what is the point in not allowing someone like me to apply, and causing me to waste like 2 years before being able to join the Reserves and close to 5 years before being able to join the Regulars? It‘s stuff like this that the Canadian Forces need to improve. Policies that are unfair to those who really want to be part of this country and to serve in its Armed Forces. Remember, when I apply, I would have 4 years of experience in Canadian life and lifestyle, it‘s not like I‘m coming as a tourist and applying for the CF. So there are no logical underpinnings for not allowing people who still don‘t have their immigration papers processed but are in Canada, have excellent references and qualifications, and a post-secondary degree from a recognized Canadian university, to *try* to join the CF... Of course, I know that is the *law* but well, someone asked how to *improve* the CF, and that is one of my suggestions - just ignoring someone‘s application at face value just because either the "Canadian Citizen" or "Landed Immigrant" checkboxes aren‘t checked, is just ignorant, illogical, and unfair. In my case, you can fairly assess my chances of becoming a landed immigrant - almost 100% once I finish my degree, and I‘m sure the CF have the brains to assess that situation, if only they would look at it.
That‘s my main suggestion to improve the CF. Of course, it might not appeal to you because it‘s a very minor and specific suggestion/improvement, whereas you were looking for more general ones, but well, you gotta start somewhere. In most cases (even ALL cases, I would say), non-citizens joining the army is NOT an indicator that they are doing it to influence/hasten their immigration/citizenship application processes. Getting into the army is a career. For someone like me, I have no chance of joining the army back in Lebanon - they don‘t allow women into the army except for office jobs, which is NOT what I want to do. It is for reasons like those that people come to Canada - for opportunities for development and future.
Anyhow, I consider myself
because Canada has given me something no rejection of immigration or citizenship status can take away. Immigration is an issue of mutual trust, and if they are not willing to trust me, there is nothing much I can do except respect their position and move on. It is not up to me to make those changes in policies for the Canadian Forces either. It is up to Canadian citizens, people like you, who have the chance of joining and whose suggestions are listened to. I would‘ve agreed with you that if I were from the States or some other developed country that had an Air Force and allowed women into the army, that would become a security issue, but I‘m a woman, and won‘t be allowed into my country‘s army anyhow, so there is no issue of me going back and taking all that knowledge to my country. Heh, nope, I‘m not whining. I‘m just stating my case and how the CF can try and improve. I really hope someone who *can* change things in the CF is reading this.
How many Canadians would want to lose 7 years of their life, and join the army after they‘re 30 if they can help getting in at 20? Think about it.
And just because I don‘t have a piece of paper or a passport that signifies that I‘m a Canadian citizen, doesn‘t mean that I am an unreliable person, especially that I have lived in Canada for almost the period that it takes for someone to become a citizen.
And
THAT is my point.
D.