Let Canadian Expats Vote!
There are nearly 3 million Canadians living abroad, but sadly, those who have lived outside Canada for more than 5 years lose their right to vote. This is a blatant violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which states that "every citizen of Canada has the right to vote in an election of members of the House of Commons or of a legislative assembly and to be qualified for membership therein."
This restriction of voting rights essentially reduces Canadian expats to a lower class of citizen. This is unacceptable, because the right to vote is for all Canadians, not just a select few. Even criminals serving prison sentences have the right to vote in Canada.
There are many reasons Canadians choose to live abroad (career opportunities, family ties, etc.), and punishing them for exercising their right to travel and live abroad is not only unconstitutional, but immoral as well. Tell Canadian MPs to end this policy!
Please uphold your obligations as Canadian lawmakers and end the policy of revoking voting privileges for Canadians who have lived overseas for more than 5 years. This clearly goes against the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which guarantees the right to vote for
all Canadian citizens.
97 countries around the world allow their expatriate citizens to vote. This includes Western countries with emigrant populations larger than Canada's, such as Belgium, the Netherlands, and Sweden. Why should Canada be any less tolerant of expats?
Although Canadians are divided on this issue, a recent survey by the Asia Pacific Foundation found that a majority of Canadians support voting rights for citizens living abroad. So please, act in accordance with the Canadian Constitution, international standards, and wishes of the Canadian public by ending this policy immediately. Thank you for your time.
