Canadian immigration minister takes responsibility for citizenship guide

The Canadian immigration minister Jason Kenney was responding to questions in the House of Commons on Thursday about the citizenship guide, which was released in November 2009.

The early draft of the guide, part of preparation every Canadian migrant must make for the new citizenship tests starting in March 15, contained sections with milestones in gay rights in Canada. These sections were removed by Mr Kenney’s office, and the office also rebuffed efforts last August by other bureaucrats to have them re-added.

When answering questions on the matter Mr Kenney did not explain who ordered the material cut from the document.

“I take full responsibility for the content of that document,” Mr Kenney said.

A spokesman for Mr Kenney said last week the minister made the edit because the booklet, which reviews Canadian culture, politics and history, could not be “encyclopaedic,” but Mr Kenney denied ordering the cut, although providing no explanation of who in his office was responsible.

The Canadian Visa Bureau is an independent consulting company specialising in helping people lodge their Canadian Visa with the Canadian Embassy London.