Expat Canadians deserve the right to vote in Federal Elections

A disgraceful action. I still pay taxes in Canada . I deserve my rights to vote

10 years ago Featured

I am Canadian. How DARE you tell me I am not? What's next, my social security I presume. My passport? I am livid. For the first time in my life I am ashamed to be Canadian. Because I married an American I lose my right to vote?

One could point out a possible correlation between Canada’s expansion of voting rights with Bills C-111, C-127, C-12, C-135, and C-415 with the average or above-average voter turnouts during those years and Canada’s aggressive expansion of the franchise to that of Canada’s later withdrawal and retraction of rights post-Charter, and especially after the early 90’s with Canada’s way below average voter turnouts. In the late 1950’s, Canada aggressively sought to include the voices of non-residents and even those of non-citizens, and during those years, Canada’s voter turnout was the highest. After Bill C-79 failed, in 1993, Canada’s voter turnout has maintained a steep decline.

Canadian expat infuriated over disenfranchisement this October. Can only hope that others vote for anyone other than the Conservatives now.

I am Canadian - born and raised in Canada - and only Canadian. What happens at home can impact me, and is important to and matters to me. Voting is a Charter protected right of my citizenship regardless of where I live and work.

Just because I do not live in Canada should not take away my right to vote

Not only was the Ontario Court ruling wrong, but Elections Canada is making it stricter by saying that non-residents must provide the month and year I plan to return to Canada. Stop this election unless all Canadians can vote!

been living in the U.S. 9+ years

Canadians all over have the right to be counted. make jobs here, then they can stay in Canada.

I have lived in Montreal 26 and a half years, was born there and intend to move back permanently in April. I have a Canadian passport, a Canadian citizenship card, a medicare card and a social insurance card.

if they are Canadian they should have the right to vote

If most industrial nation do why we canadians don't have this right?

They are still Canadians....they have a right to vote.

WHY!! This doesn't even sound political as expats also have many friends/family still in Canada that can vote. Sounds like stupid bureaucrats to me.

First I'm designated a second-class citizen for being born (in Canada!) with dual citizenship, now I'm not allowed to vote? Outrageous. We cannot stand for this.

As an expatriate who has lived away from Canada for over 5 years, it saddens me deeply to see our Canadian democracy slipping away. I can understand placing restrictions on expat voters, such as limiting us to voting in the riding in which we most recently resided, but it seems wholly contrary to the tenets we hold dear as Canadians to take away this fundamental right.

Yikes, James. p.s. All of the current Members of Parliament, except for the 7 who are of Inuit/Metis/First Nations origin, are immigrants. p.p.s. hate speech is illegal in Canada, even on the internet (http://www.parl.gc.ca/content/lop/researchpublications/2010-31-e.htm#a6)

Citizenship is something you are born with but here in Canada we have debauched the meaning of citizenship like we have dzenship. ebauched our currency. We abort babies and allow foreigners to come here and be given full citizenship. Result, check out the number of immigrants sitting in our House of Commons. Even the Governor General is an immigrant while expatriots who have full citizenship by birthright are being denied the right to vote.We are losing democracy here in Canada. Canadians need to wake up.

Harper probably thinks that anyone out of his sphere of influence is dangerous.

Canadian Citizens should have the right to vote regardless of where they are living. The government does not have the right to take away a right that is so fundamental.