Close X
Thursday, October 31, 2024
ADVT 
National

O'Toole muses about mandatory voting

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 27 Apr, 2021 05:17 PM
  • O'Toole muses about mandatory voting

Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole recently told a virtual crowd he is looking closely at how Australia makes voting mandatory — and whether Canada should follow its lead.

The remarks came when O'Toole was asked about proportional representation during an event hosted by the Delta Chamber of Commerce in British Columbia earlier this month.

O'Toole said he did not support that kind of electoral reform, but added that he has been "thinking about and talking about" how Australia requires its citizens to cast a ballot.

Australia is one of the few countries in the world that has made it compulsory to vote at all levels of government, or else risk being fined, and voter turnout is relatively high.

O'Toole said voting is a civic duty that Canada should encourage and that he would "look closely" at what Australia is doing.

Asked today about whether O'Toole supports mandatory voting and why he said he was looking at it, a spokesperson did not directly answer but provided a statement saying the federal Conservatives would always stand up for the right of Canadians to vote.

MORE National ARTICLES

Leaders criticize federal budget as debate opens

Leaders criticize federal budget as debate opens
Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he knows where he's seen two of the Liberals' signature budget promises before: his own party's election platforms.

Leaders criticize federal budget as debate opens

Fire engulfs unfinished condo in Langley, B.C.

Fire engulfs unfinished condo in Langley, B.C.
The fire broke out at around 9:30 p.m. Monday at the development in Langley's Willoughby neighbourhood, about 45 kilometres east of Vancouver.

Fire engulfs unfinished condo in Langley, B.C.

Budget: Promises you might have missed

Budget: Promises you might have missed
The federal Liberal government’s first budget in more than two years makes big promises on child care, the environment and readying the country’s economy for a post-pandemic rebound.

Budget: Promises you might have missed

Trudeau, Freeland seeking vaccine appointments

Trudeau, Freeland seeking vaccine appointments
Many pharmacies reported in recent days that appointments for people 55 and up were going unfilled, and there was a risk some doses were going to go to waste.

Trudeau, Freeland seeking vaccine appointments

Provinces balk at Liberals' child-care pledge

Provinces balk at Liberals' child-care pledge
Yesterday's federal budget outlined $27.2 billion over five years, starting this fiscal year, in new spending the Liberals want to send to provinces to subsidize daycares.

Provinces balk at Liberals' child-care pledge

One dead in fatal shooting in Coquitlam, B.C

One dead in fatal shooting in Coquitlam, B.C
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says it happened at about 6:30 p.m. at the Town Centre skate park.

One dead in fatal shooting in Coquitlam, B.C