March 24, 2021

MP Elizabeth May (Saanich — Gulf-Islands), Parliamentary Leader of the Green Party of Canada, has introduced a bill to lower Canada’s voting age to 16.

A promise to reduce the federal voting age was one of multiple proposals for electoral reform included in the Green Party of Canada’s platform for the 2019 election.

“We know that people who start voting young tend to become voters for life. By including youth in the democratic process earlier, we can take a giant step towards a healthier democracy,” said Ms. May

“It flies in the face of fairness that 16 and 17-year olds are old enough to work — and pay taxes — while not being allowed to vote for the government those taxes are funding,” said Ms. May.

Ms. May tabled a similar bill in 2018 and joins MP Don Davies (Vancouver – Kingsway) and Senator Marilou McPhedran (Manitoba) in bringing forward bills to reduce the voting age during the current parliament. She looks forward to supporting whichever bill they are able to get to the floor of the House of Commons first.

Ms. May’s current version adds a Coming into Force provision that would give Elections Canada six months to implement the changes.

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For more information or to arrange an interview:
Debra Eindiguer
Chief of Staff
debra@greenparty.ca
613-240-8921

The post Elizabeth May, MP for Saanich-Gulf Islands, tables Private Member’s Bill to Lower Canada’s Voting Age appeared first on Elizabeth May.

Seconded by Elizabeth May on February 1, 2012

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