A faint tickle on the scratching of the surface

That's how one immigration lawyer described the 1,800 illegal residents being asked to forfeit their "Canadian" passports. And even at that, Canada being Canada, they will be given a chance to appeal and have a federal court hearing, so they aren't exactly being given the bum's rush. Apparently, these 1,800 don't even live in Canada, but rather have fraudently obtained Canadian passports, using criminal "consultants" -- or co-conspirators, as this lawyer put it -- to make it appear as if they do.........things such as fake residences, fake mail, fake accounts....all managed by well-paid criminals here. Not wanting to live here but wanting the passport, they come to Canada for a few hours and then jet back to their tax havens. With a majority, the Harper government is moving very quickly to get this mess cleared up. Hear, hear. No new laws will have to be written, no new bills passed. No, Canada will simply have to finally begin to enforce those already on the books.

As I have said, Canada is a country of convenience and a Canadian passort highly-coveted. In fact, that little, mainly ignored Crown on the cover of your passport represents freedom, tolerance and the rule of law to every border guard and immigration officer wearing a uniform in every corner of the globe. And with so many terrorists in the United Kingdom, thanks to Britain's previously-held realms, a Canadian passport trumps a British one any day.

Speaking of the Crown, 'The Telegraph' recently published a very lengthy and detailed article on what the Monarchy costs each Briton,versus what it brings into the public coffers. Fifty-one pence versus billions. With a gold standard like that, why anyone objects to Her Majesty is ludicrously beyond me. As for those Canadians pushing for a republic, they understand neither the Canadian Constitution, nor the place of the Crown in it. It is very unfortunate Canadian schools stopped teaching Canadian history. If they hadn't, people who think the Canadian legal system is based on the Charter of Rights and Freedoms would have to give their vacant heads an edifying shake.