Expat Canadians deserve the right to vote in Federal Elections
247 Comments
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Deborah Probst
11 years ago
Im Canadian and always will be.
B
Bob Schwenger
11 years ago
My sister is entitled to vote for her country even though her circumstances forced her to stay with her husband in the USA. She was born here and is still a Canadian!!
K
Kelly Gordon
11 years ago
I may live in the US because my husband lives here but I will always be a Canadian. In a few years, I will return to live in Canada because that is where my heart is right along with my heritage and family.
As a Canadian, this is my constitutional right to be able to vote no matter where I live. Please - give us back the right to vote.
L
Lise Naud McNally
11 years ago
Je vis aux EU car mon mari est americain. Je possède une maison dans les Laurentides ou je passe 5 mois par année. Les décisions gouvernementales me touchent et je veux participer à la sélection de mes representants
S
Shannon Dillon-Wagner
11 years ago
I am Canadian. Always will be. I will be buried in Canada...it is where I belong.
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Kathryn Schwenger
11 years ago
I do not reside in Canada because my husband does not have residency in Canada and I wanted to live with him but that does not mean I am no longer interested in what happens politically in Canada! Canada is my country! I keep abreast of the news, of the politics, of the economy. I read the Globe and Mail and Toronto Star and follow the CBC online daily. My family and many friends all live in Canada. I lived and worked in Canada for nearly 50 years. I paid income tax and made my contributions to CPP and EI. My retirement pensions and my social benefits are all in Canada - but I am allowed no say in how my country is run. My constitutional right as a Canadian citizen to vote for my country's government has been denied to me. Americans citizens can vote for their government when they don't live in the US. Italian citizens can vote for their government when they don't live in Italy. Many countries recognize that their expatriates are still connected and concerned with their country of birth and citizenship. I have voted in every election inCanada since I turned 18, in fact, working in many of them as DRO or Poll Clerk. I volunteered on political campaigns and I worked for a Member of Parliament assisting Canadians with their government interactions. I happened to fall in love with an American and when he couldn't move to Canada, I moved to the US - and found out that without a definite date of return to Canada, I was no longer allowed to vote! When the Supreme Court ruled several years ago that this disenfranchisement was unconstitutional and expatriate Canadians should be allowed to vote, I was overjoyed! I registered with Elections Canada and received my confirmation that I was once again on the Voters' List. Now, the Court of Appeal on a split decision - that means one person only - decided that I and about a million other Canadian citizens who haven't lived in Canada in the last 5 years are once again disenfranchised. I am hurt, I am angry, and I am
B
Bryce McNeil
11 years ago
I would like to add my voice to the list of disenfranchised Canadians who are sorely disappointed at the recent ruling disbarring expats from voting in Canadian elections.
Canada represents me on a global stage. I have no voice in my current country of residency on such matters. Canada has stripped me of my voice.
I understand the delicate nature of the issue that many resident Canadians have a concern for representation without taxation. But surely legislation must be drafted to correct this if it is a burden on the state. Especially given that I know there are many non-citizen residents in Canada that pay plenty of taxes and are not afforded a vote either (but I'm sure they can probably vote in their native land).
Im Canadian and always will be.
My sister is entitled to vote for her country even though her circumstances forced her to stay with her husband in the USA. She was born here and is still a Canadian!!
I may live in the US because my husband lives here but I will always be a Canadian. In a few years, I will return to live in Canada because that is where my heart is right along with my heritage and family. As a Canadian, this is my constitutional right to be able to vote no matter where I live. Please - give us back the right to vote.
Je vis aux EU car mon mari est americain. Je possède une maison dans les Laurentides ou je passe 5 mois par année. Les décisions gouvernementales me touchent et je veux participer à la sélection de mes representants
I am Canadian. Always will be. I will be buried in Canada...it is where I belong.
I do not reside in Canada because my husband does not have residency in Canada and I wanted to live with him but that does not mean I am no longer interested in what happens politically in Canada! Canada is my country! I keep abreast of the news, of the politics, of the economy. I read the Globe and Mail and Toronto Star and follow the CBC online daily. My family and many friends all live in Canada. I lived and worked in Canada for nearly 50 years. I paid income tax and made my contributions to CPP and EI. My retirement pensions and my social benefits are all in Canada - but I am allowed no say in how my country is run. My constitutional right as a Canadian citizen to vote for my country's government has been denied to me. Americans citizens can vote for their government when they don't live in the US. Italian citizens can vote for their government when they don't live in Italy. Many countries recognize that their expatriates are still connected and concerned with their country of birth and citizenship. I have voted in every election inCanada since I turned 18, in fact, working in many of them as DRO or Poll Clerk. I volunteered on political campaigns and I worked for a Member of Parliament assisting Canadians with their government interactions. I happened to fall in love with an American and when he couldn't move to Canada, I moved to the US - and found out that without a definite date of return to Canada, I was no longer allowed to vote! When the Supreme Court ruled several years ago that this disenfranchisement was unconstitutional and expatriate Canadians should be allowed to vote, I was overjoyed! I registered with Elections Canada and received my confirmation that I was once again on the Voters' List. Now, the Court of Appeal on a split decision - that means one person only - decided that I and about a million other Canadian citizens who haven't lived in Canada in the last 5 years are once again disenfranchised. I am hurt, I am angry, and I am
I would like to add my voice to the list of disenfranchised Canadians who are sorely disappointed at the recent ruling disbarring expats from voting in Canadian elections. Canada represents me on a global stage. I have no voice in my current country of residency on such matters. Canada has stripped me of my voice. I understand the delicate nature of the issue that many resident Canadians have a concern for representation without taxation. But surely legislation must be drafted to correct this if it is a burden on the state. Especially given that I know there are many non-citizen residents in Canada that pay plenty of taxes and are not afforded a vote either (but I'm sure they can probably vote in their native land).