EDMONTON – A University of Alberta assistant professor is looking for an apology from Edmonton Centre Conservative candidate James Cumming.
Ubaka Ogbogu said Cumming was going door-to-door when he stopped at his home. Ogbogu has been vocal on social media about his concerns over Bills C-51 and C-24.
Bill C-24 came into effect in May. It allows the federal government to revoke Canadian citizenship from individuals convicted of terror-related offences if they have or are eligible for dual-citizenship.
“I asked him about Bill C-24 and the fact that he created two classes of citizens and that he made me a second class citizen in effect,” said Ogbogu.
“He then said the purpose of the bill was to combat terrorism. So I felt that he didn’t understand what I was explaining about those two different classes of citizens.”
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Ogbogu said he explained to the Conservative candidate, if he were to be implicated in an act of terror, his citizenship would be revoked and he would be deported to Nigeria – a country he also has citizenship.
“I asked him, what about you? If you commit terrorism, where would you be sent?”
A question the professor said, left Cumming bemused.
READ MORE: Civil rights groups launch constitutional challenge against Bill C-24
Ogbogu’s daughters were standing nearby. They are both Canadian-born, but have the ability to acquire dual-citizenship. He voiced concern over what would happen to them if they ever became implicated in terrorism.
“That’s when he [Cumming] came out and said if I have concerns about the bill, I should renounce my heritage and I’ll be fine,” Ogbogu alleged.
“I’m not paraphrasing him. That’s what he said. And at that point, I told him that the conversation would go on Twitter because he said something I found to be quite offensive and quite stunning.”
James Cumming was unavailable for comment, but he did release a statement:
“The statements attributed to me are completely false. I merely explained to the individual that Bill C-24 only allows for revocation of citizenship from individuals convicted of the most serious acts of disloyalty to Canada (terrorism, treason, spying, or taking up arms against Canada), and that unless he was planning on committing those acts, he had absolutely nothing to worry about.”
Ogbogu expressed his disappointment over Cumming’s reaction.
“I’m not in the business of lying to implicate anyone in anything. I don’t have any motives here. I don’t belong to any political party. I’m just a voter.”
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