In a formal statement, Jason Kenney, the minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, declared the legendary Christmas gift-giver "Canuck" status, the Canwest News Service reported.

"The Government of Canada wishes Santa the very best in his Christmas Eve duties and wants to let him know that, as a Canadian citizen, he has the automatic right to re-enter Canada once his trip around the world is complete," Kenney's statement said.

The report noted Santa's traditional red and white attire matches Canada's flag colors, and said the North American Aerospace Defense Command Santa tracker always shows his trip beginning in the Canadian Arctic. The joint Canadian-U.S. NORAD has issued real-time tracking of Santa's worldwide Christmas trek for more than 50 years and posts his progress at www.noradsanta.org.