I received a letter a few months back from the old age security department stating that I wasn't entitled to the old age pension cheque until I can prove that I am a landed immigrant. I arrived in Canada on Oct. 18, 1963, landing in Vancouver airport from Amsterdam. In 1988 I decided to become a Canadian citizen, mainly because of the fear that if you leave this beautiful country and wanted to re-enter it and you were not a Canadian citizen, the border security could send you back to your place of birth (England) and you would have to reapply for landed immigrant status again. In order to become a Canadian citizen you have to prove you are a landed immigrant.
I accomplished that as I am a Canadian citizen. Then 911 appeared and as my family now reside in the United States I had to get a Canadian passport in order to travel there. I have had a Canadian passport for over 10 years and one of the criteria is that you be a Canadian citizen. Having said all that, I have allowed the old age security to access Immigration Canada to find out if I am a landed immigrant. The answer I got from old age security was I am sure this will be cleared up and if not old age security will give me back pay. That is great consolation for someone who is entitled to old age security in a couple of months. It's no wonder terrorists can become Canadian citizens and have Canadian passports with all the bureaucratic wrangling that goes on in the federal government. So for all you landed immigrants don't lose or misplace your landed immigrant card as you will need it to receive old age security.
Lyndon Burgess
Prince George
