Canadians also share common responsibilities. Canadians should:

understand and obey Canadian laws

participate in Canada's democratic political system

vote in elections

allow other Canadians to enjoy their rights and freedoms

appreciate and help to preserve Canada's multicultural heritage

All Canadians are encouraged to become informed about political activities, and to help better their communities and the country.

Canadian citizenship also implies the following responsibilities:

to obey Canada's laws;

to vote in the federal, provincial and municipal elections;

to discourage discrimination and injustice;

to respect the rights of others;

to respect public and private property; and

to support Canada's ideals in building the country we all share.

As a permanent resident ("landed immigrant"), you have more rights and privileges than visitors to Canada have, but you do not have all the rights held by Canadian citizens. Here are some of the things you should know about being a permanent resident in Canada.

A permanent resident can be forced to leave Canada for several reasons. If an Immigration official has information showing that you should be removed from Canada, you may be ordered to attend an Immigration inquiry. The inquiry is held to decide whether you have violated the Immigration Act and should be removed from Canada.

If you are a permanent resident, you can still lose your status. No matter how long you have lived here, you can be required to leave Canada if:

you used false documents when you applied for permanent residence;

you provided false or incomplete information when you applied for permanent residence or when you were landed;

there were conditions on your permanent resident status but you did not fulfill them; for example, you did not marry within 90 days of arriving in Canada after being sponsored by your fiance or fiancee;

you were convicted of or committed a crime outside Canada before or after you were landed (crimes committed after landing will result in removal only if they are more serious offences, based on the sentence that could have been imposed); exceptions will be made if at least five years have passed since you committed the crime, or since your sentence ended, and if you satisfy the Canadian authorities that you have been rehabilitated;

you were convicted of a crime in Canada before or after you were landed (crimes committed after landing will result in removal only if they are more serious offences, based on the sentence that was or could have been imposed);

Immigration believes that you have been, or will be, involved in espionage, subversion, terrorism, or organized crime, or that you are a security risk for some other reason; or

Immigration believes that you committed war crimes or crimes against humanity outside Canada, or that you were a senior member of or official in a government that was guilty of such acts or of terrorism or gross human rights violations.

If you are deported from Canada, dependent children who are not Canadian citizens may have to leave with you.

Most permanent residents ordered to leave Canada at an Immigration inquiry can appeal this order at the Immigration Appeal Division of the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB). This is not possible, however, if you were ordered removed because you were convicted of a serious crime and the Minister of Immigration sees you as a danger to the public or certifies that you are a security risk. If this happens, you should get legal help immediately. Written submissions may persuade the Minister not to declare you a danger to the public, or to let you remain in Canada regardless.

If you have the right to appeal, humanitarian and compassionate factors can be considered at your appeal, unless you were ordered removed because an Immigration adjudicator determined that you are a security risk (a spy or terrorist, for example). If this is the case, a legal issue must be raised in your appeal. If your appeal is successful, you will be allowed to stay in Canada, even if you violated the Immigration Act.