By Jim Gurnett
I was at a citizenship ceremony a few days ago as a friend took his oath, a huge smile on his face as he stood with the judge holding up his certificate. Eighty-three others, from over 20 places of origin joined him singing “O Canada” for the first time as citizens. They walked out of Canada Place that sunny summer afternoon with a status that includes the right to vote.
These are events that are an important visual and symbolic part of the story of creating a good nation. But most of those taking the oath on that summer afternoon have lived in Canada for five or more years. They have been working in jobs that contribute to the quality of life we enjoy. They have been paying taxes. They have been governed by all the same laws and regulations as Canadians. Their children have been sitting in classrooms. They have been volunteering with community organizations of every sort.
Yet, when an election has come along during their time as permanent residents, they have been left on the sidelines, unable to cast a vote for who will represent them as policies and legislation is debated and significant decisions about their lives are made.
The possibility to change this in Alberta is available now. The provincial government is preparing to make amendments to the Local Authorities Elections Act, the law that governs many aspects of municipal elections. The government is asking people to suggest what they would like to see changed and ideas can be shared through an on-line survey at www.alberta.ca/local-authority-elections-act-engagement.aspx.
Myer Siemiatycki says, “The place of immigrants in a country is most importantly determined by what place the receiving state and society assigns to newcomers.” When we make clear that newcomers are truly our neighbours and have value, we strengthen the possibility of their on-going involvement in democracy and citizenship in every way.
In the current government survey, most of the questions are about specific things the government has already decided need attention, such as how financial donations are made to candidates. But the last question lets people mention any other issue they feel needs action. This is where the idea to make it possible for permanent residents to vote in municipal elections can be suggested. The more often this suggestion is made, the greater the potential those drafting the new law will feel it needs attention.
Currently in over 40 nations non-citizens have voting rights, mostly in municipal elections. Democracy is always evolving. Early in Canada’s history only white males over the age of 21 who owned property were considered worthy of voting but over time men without property, women, Asians, Indigenous people, and those 18 years of age and older have all been added, as laws have changed.
Some have argued that those who are not citizens do not have the connection to Canada that makes it acceptable for them to vote. Yet there are hundreds of thousands of Canadians who have the right to vote, yet are dual citizens and continue to have voting rights in another country, and this has not been seen as a problem.
The case for including permanent residents is strong. People like Irene Bloemraad have suggested we need to think of citizenship as involving “engagement and practice,” not just an official legal status. Being able to vote in local elections that affect so many aspects of daily life is one way to enable such practical citizenship.
About ten percent of those living in Canada are permanent residents, Without any voting rights they are left as outsiders, while those of us who are citizens participate in electing leaders who make decisions that affect all our lives. This may well hurt their enthusiasm to take part in democratic life when they do become citizens. Since they have no vote, there is a danger that those who are elected will pay less attention to issues that affect their lives, given they carry no political weight.
To change the law so permanent residents can vote is a matter of fairness, but it can also contribute to encouraging others to get involved and vote too. Currently the participation by citizens in municipal elections is very low, often with 40 percent or even less bothering to vote. Extending the vote to permanent residents also says to the rest of Canada and the world that Alberta is a place that values immigrants and wants them to be full participants in civil society.
James Raskin says, “We cannot treat the world as a global economic village but define it as a collection of remote islands for the purposes of political participation. Eventually, we may define a human right to democratic participation.” A first step towards recognizing this human right would be a small change to Alberta law so that when the 2021 municipal election comes around, we are joined in long lines of voters by our friends, neighbours, and colleagues who are permanent residents, together making choices for those who will govern our communities. When this happens we will be a step nearer to having real communities of belonging.
The survey about the legislation is only on-line until July 31, so don’t delay in making your views known.
If organizations wanted to speak up on this issue too, a letter expressing support, sent to Shaye Anderson, the Minister of Municipal Affairs, and copied to other MLAs, could strengthen to message even more.
