The practice of requiring new Canadian citizens to swear an oath of allegiance to the Queen could violate the country’s charter of rights and freedoms, according to a leading judge.

Immigrants seeking to be citizens must swear to be “faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, Her Heirs and Successors”.

But Charles Roach, 73, a Toronto criminal lawyer, is challenging it in the courts and others are poised to follow in a huge class-action.

If they win, they are to demand token damages of $5,000 for those, such as himself, who refused the oath on grounds of conscience, or who were forced to swear it under duress............

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/global/ma...1/wqueen11.xml