With Ted Cruz having announced his intention to renounce his Canadian citizenship, Jeff Lord has made it known that he opposes Americans holding dual citizenship on the grounds that they could vote in elections abroad. He begins by writing:

Should all Americans have the right to vote in Mexico?

In Iran & Iraq?

How about Venezuela, Cuba, Canada, and China?

I’m not sure why Jeff lumps Canada in with such totalitarian regimes as Venezuela, Cuba and China. In fact, methinks he would like the Harper government a great deal. But I digress.

As many American Spectator readers are aware I was born in Canada, but now live in Boston. And yes, I hold citizenship in both Canada and the United States.

With that, some facts are in order. Any Canadian who has lived abroad for more than five years cannot vote in any federal, provincial or municipal election. I have not cast a ballot in home and native land since the 2000 federal election, the same year I moved to the U.S. (Yes, I also voted in the 2000 Presidential election). 

Indeed, during that election, the Canadian born actor Christopher Plummer was told by Elections Canada that he could not vote. In fact, I spoke to the Elections Canada official who told him this when I cast my ballot. Plummer has resided in Connecticut for decades. The only way me, Christopher Plummer or any other Canadian living abroad for more than five years could vote in a Canadian election is if we elected to move back to Canada. Plummer has no plans to return to Canada and neither do I. So I hope this will mollify Jeff somewhat. He can rest assured that Christopher Plummer and I will not be appearing at a Canadian polling station anytime soon.