SoVote

Decentralized Democracy

House Bill

Bill C-227

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
February 03, 2022
An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (voting age)
  • Bill C-227 aims to lower the federal voting age in Canada from 18 to 16 years old. The proposed amendments to the Canada Elections Act would redefine the "future elector" as a Canadian citizen who is 14 years of age or older but under 16 years of age. It also states that every person who is a Canadian citizen and is 16 years of age or older on polling day is qualified as an elector. The bill would remove the requirement for electors to be 16 or older for certain provisions, such as being nominated as a candidate or serving as an election officer. The purpose of this bill is to expand the voting rights of young Canadians by allowing them to participate in the electoral process at an earlier age.
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Context: House Hansard - 23 - Feb/3/22
Mr. Don Davies (Vancouver Kingsway, NDP)
moved for leave to introduce Bill C-227, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (voting age). He said: Mr. Speaker, today I am honoured to introduce legislation that would extend the right to vote to all Canadians aged 16 and over. I would like to thank the hon. member for Skeena—Bulkley Valley for seconding this bill and for his tireless efforts to move this important initiative forward. The history of the franchise in Canada is one of constant expansion. At the time of Confederation, voting was restricted to male British subjects who were at least 21 years of age and owned property. However, as our country progressed over subsequent generations, voting rights were extended to women, Asian Canadians, indigenous people, those without property and those under 21 years of age, now 18. I believe it is time to give young people the full rights and responsibilities of citizenship as well. Young Canadians are engaged, well informed and passionate advocates for a brighter future, their future. They work and pay taxes, but they have no say in how those tax dollars are spent. This disenfranchisement is unjustified and must change. I call on all parliamentarians to make young people equal participants in our democracy by supporting this vital legislation.
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