Gulf War Veteran deprived of Citizenship

I am Canadian citizen who lost his citizenship because of 9/11. I am not alone there are thousands (maybe tens of thousands) of other Canadians in the same situation who don't even know it.

I was born 22 Aug 1962 in France to Cecilia Baudin ( born Rosevear AB) and Curtiss Usherwood (born Winsdor Ont). They both joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and were posted to 1 Canadian Air Division Metz France where they met, got married in 1960 and deciding to have a family, Cecilia had to quit the RCAF. My sister, Marie Usherwood, and I were born in France. In 1963 my father was posted to back to Canada, where I and my sister grew up as a Canadian citizens. In 1980 I joined the Canadian Armed Forces and served for 22 years. I spent the Gulf War in Doha Qatar and sailed two NATO tours on HMCS Fredricton. For my sevice to my country I was given the Gulf and Kuwait medal with bar, Special Service Medal with Nato bar, Queens Golden Jubilee medal and Canadian Forces Decoration with bar. After 22 years of service with the Regular Forces, I joined the Reserves where I continue to serve my country entering my 25th year this coming summer.

Naturally, as an Canadian would be, I was shocked to be told the Canadian Government (except for DND) no longer considers me a Canadian citizen. As a reservist I now work part time. As my wallet, and my SIN card was stolen in 1981 in Pearl Harbour while I was in port while sailing on HMCS Saskatchewan. I reported it stolen to my ship and USN Police. At the time the Canadian Military used the serviceman SIN number as identify number for each serviceman. So naturally I had this number absolutely menorized and since my only employer, I have ever had, had seen the card I did not worry about replacing it. I knew my number, paid my taxes etc why did I need a card to tell me the number. But now I decided that I should get it replaced.

I went to the local UI office and asked how I do this. I had my documents with figuring it would be no problem. I had in addition to my Royal Canadian Air Force Baptismal Certificate, my French birth Certificate and most important my Certificate of Registration of Birth Aboard dated 18 Oct 1962, in Ottawa certifying that Patrick Charles Usherwood is a Canadian citizen pursuant to section 5 (1) (b) of the Canadian Citizenship Act.

Pior to 9/11 this documentation was fine but no longer. I was informed that this document was not accepted any more. I have no proof I am Canadian. There has been hundreds of thousands of Canadians Forces serviceman who were posted to Europe (and else where in the world) since the 1950's. Many of who had children while outside Canada. All these Canadians have lost their citizenship and do not even know it.

Cpl Patrick Charles Usherwood G&K/bar, SSM, CD1 Courtenay BC

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