- Target:
- M.P.
- Region:
- Canada
- Website:
- www.chrc-ccdp.ca
The petition is now closed. It was not used for anything.
Human Rights in Canada: An Historical Perspective
Voting Rights
1900
Under the Dominion Elections Act S.C. 1900 c. 12, Minorities -including women - who are excluded from voting in provincial elections are therefore automatically excluded from voting in federal elections.
1908
Municipal Elections Act S.B.C. 1908 c. 14 s. 13(1) - No Chinese, Japanese, or other "Asiatic" or Indian person is entitled to vote in any municipal election in B.C.
1916
Women win the right to vote in provincial elections in Manitoba.
Women win the right to vote in provincial elections in Saskatchewan.
Women win the right to vote in provincial elections in Alberta.
1917
An Act to amend the Provincial Election Act, S.B.C. 1917, c.23 grants women the right to vote in provincial elections in B.C. The Ontario Franchise Act, S.O. 1917 c. 5 grants women the right to vote in provincial elections in Ontario.
1918
An Act to Confer Electoral Franchise Upon Women, S.C. 1918, c. 20 grants women the right to vote in federal elections. Women can now vote in Nova Scotia.
1920
The federal government makes the franchise universal, except for minorities and Aboriginals persons.
1922
The Election Act, S.P.E.I. 1922, c.5 grants women the right to vote in provincial elections in P.E.I.
1949
Japanese persons win the right to vote in provincial elections in B.C.
1960
The Canadian Bill of Rights receives Royal Assent.
Aboriginal persons are granted the right to vote in federal elections.
1982
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is enacted as part of the Constitution Act, 1982.
1991
In Reference Re Provincial Electoral Boundaries (Saskatchewan) [1991] 2 S.C.R. 158, the Supreme Court of Canada decides that s. 3 of Charter does not guarantee equality of voting power, but just the right to effective representation.
1993
The Supreme Court decides that prisoners behind bars cannot universally be denied the right to vote in Sauvé v. Canada (Attorney General) 89 D.L.R. (4th) 644.
SOURCE: http://www.chrc-ccdp.ca/en/browseSubjects/votingRights.asp
I am doing a petition for a college project. Youth age 18-24 have the lowest average of voter turnout. The legal age to vote should be lowered to 16 because students may be more likely to vote when they are learning about Canadian History and culture in Secondary School.
Children who are growing up these days tend to be more mature and are learning information at a faster rate than they did in the 90's. Most adolescents by the age of 16 are driving, paying taxes and even raising children. Some may be worried about maturity level regarding voting.
Not all teens will care about voting but the majority of teens that do care and do follow politics are probably mature enough to do so. Why is it that prisoners behind bars who have committed crimes can vote but young adults can't?
TEENS ARE THE FUTURE AND THEY SHOULD HAVE A SAY!
Thank you for your signature.
The Legal Age to Vote Should be Lowered to 16 petition to M.P. was written by Ashley Hulme and is in the category Politics at GoPetition.