It seems a very convoluted argument to justify as a legal reality something (citizenship) that is also intended to signify an emotional attachment to the country. My mother's emotional attachment to Canada was strong enough after 20 years to allow her to swallow the notion of swearing allegiance to a foreign dignitary who's the head of a religion to which she didn't belong. And we wonder why immigrants to this country don't seem as attached to the place as do immigrants who settle in the U.S.? Also, the CBC story is cute, but it should be pointed out that it also based on a fallacy. Canadian citizens when arriving in Canada do have to provide their credentials to a customs officer. I have never been able to sail through customs without doing so, although if you hold a Canadian passport you can now do this at a computer kiosk.