Pubdate: Wed, 27 Aug 2003 Source: Burlington Post (CN ON) Copyright: 2003 Burlington Post Contact: http://www.haltonsearch.com/hr/bp/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1528 Author: Paddy Torsney CANADIANS TRAVELLING ABROAD MUST RESPECT THE LAWS OF THEIR HOST COUNTRY While we are fortunate to live in a country that respects and promotes human rights, other countries may have a different interpretation of those rights. Recent high-profile cases of Canadians arrested abroad highlight the need to be fully informed of the implications of travelling with dual citizenship. Citizenship laws are complicated and vary from country to country. If you have dual citizenship and travel under another passport, you must be aware that if you encounter problems, Canadian authorities may not be able to assist you. Canadian officials may have difficulty acting on your behalf because you are not a Canadian citizen in the eyes of local authorities. For example, in a case such as Zahra Kazemi's, Canadian officials were not notified of her incarceration, were unable to negotiate her release or the eventual return of her remains to Canada. Even as a visitor, you and your children could be subject to mandatory military service and/or domestic taxation laws. It is important to remember when you travel that you must respect local laws, especially regarding illegal drugs. More than 2,000 Canadians are in jails throughout the world -- many of them for drug-related offences. If you break the law in another country, you are subject to that country's judicial system and can even face the death penalty. Drugs and medical supplies legal in Canada, may be considered illegal in some countries, require a prescription, or may lead to delays or problems with officials and customs and immigration authorities. Be sure to take appropriate precautions when travelling with such supplies: carry a copy of the prescription (with both the generic and trade names of the drug included), and a doctor's note describing why you are taking the medication. If you have dual citizenship and/or dual passports, please check with Canadian authorities before you leave. Contact the Citizenship and Immigration call centre at 1-888-242-2100 or visit its Web site at www.cic.gc.ca. The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade also offers practical country-by-country advice to dual nationals travelling abroad at www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca. My office can assist you as well. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin