Close X
Sunday, November 10, 2024
ADVT 
National

PM Justin Trudeau Said Willing To Look At That Voting Ban For Long-Term Expats

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 01 Dec, 2015 11:42 AM
    TORONTO — A Canadian woman who recently met Justin Trudeau in London says the prime minister indicated a willingness to review a law disenfranchising long-term expats.
     
    In an interview from the U.K., Laura Bailey says she met Trudeau at a reception at the Canadian High Commission on Nov. 25 as he moved through the crowd and shook his hand.
     
    "I hope you can reinstate my right to vote in the next election," Bailey said she told Trudeau.
     
    "He said to me, 'We'll work on that,' with a little cutesy smile. Then I took a selfie with him."
     
    While it wasn't a firm promise to repeal the legislation, Bailey said she took it as "promising" that Trudeau seemed to be at least willing to consider revamping the rules.
     
    There was no response from the Prime Minister's Office to a request for comment.
     
    An Elections Canada spokesman noted that Trudeau, who has pledged various democratic reforms, has also promised to repeal parts of the Conservative legislation known as Bill C-23 — the Fair Elections Act — that critics complain made it harder for some to vote.
     
    "Suspect the review of C-23 might generate discussion of expats," John Enright said in an email Tuesday.
     
     
    The law barring Canadian citizens who have lived abroad for more than five years from casting ballots has been on the books since 1993 but it was only under the Conservative government of former prime minister Stephen Harper that Elections Canada began its strict enforcement.
     
    The issue became a flashpoint for many of the estimated 1.4 million expat Canadians who found themselves shut out from voting in 2011 and again in 2015. Canadian business groups in Asia criticized the Conservatives, expats in New York organized a pre-election anti-Harper bash, and one U.S. resident ran as a protest candidate in Harper's Calgary riding — even though he couldn't vote for himself.
     
    "The last government made a hasty decision to limit the rights of expat voters and reinterpret the law," said Bailey, 28, formerly of Brantford, Ont.
     
    "I have quite a few friends here...who were just left not being able to vote — regardless of who they wanted to vote for. We felt really disenfranchised."
     
    Bailey was able to cast a ballot in October — she has been abroad just shy of four years — and said was keen to do so because she might not be able to next time. She said she wrote candidates in her home riding asking for their views. None replied.
     
    Two expats in the U.S. are also waiting to see if the Supreme Court of Canada will hear their challenge to a law they say is discriminatory, but which has so far been upheld by the courts. They have urged the government to not defend the law if the top court agrees to hear the case.
     
     
    Like many other expats, Bailey said she has parents, a brother and relatives living in Canada, and she cares about what happens to the country. For now, she's hoping Trudeau will come through.
     
    "If he can legalize marijuana, he can legalize my right to vote," she said with a laugh.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Teen Refugee Sues B.C Government, Alleging He Was Put In Solitary Confinement For Four Months

    Teen Refugee Sues B.C Government, Alleging He Was Put In Solitary Confinement For Four Months
    The youth, known in court documents as K.C., filed a civil claim in B.C. Supreme Court this week alleging his rights were infringed during imprisonment at the Burnaby Youth Detention Centre.

    Teen Refugee Sues B.C Government, Alleging He Was Put In Solitary Confinement For Four Months

    Alberta Farmers, Ranchers Use Social Media To Lobby Against Farm Safety Bill

    Alberta Farmers, Ranchers Use Social Media To Lobby Against Farm Safety Bill
    BRETON, Alta. — There is growing pushback in rural Alberta against the NDP government's plan to include farm and ranch workers in safety and workplace legislation.

    Alberta Farmers, Ranchers Use Social Media To Lobby Against Farm Safety Bill

    Peace River North MLA Pat Pimm Will Not Run In 2017 Provincial Election

    Peace River North MLA Pat Pimm Will Not Run In 2017 Provincial Election
      VANCOUVER — British Columbia MLA Pat Pimm is retiring, but the Peace River North politician won't be leaving the legislature for a while.

    Peace River North MLA Pat Pimm Will Not Run In 2017 Provincial Election

    Worker Killed At Goldcorp's Musselwhite Mine In Northern Ontario, Work Suspended

    Worker Killed At Goldcorp's Musselwhite Mine In Northern Ontario, Work Suspended

    VANCOUVER — Goldcorp Inc. (TSX:G) says a worker has been killed at its Musselwhite Mine in ...

    Worker Killed At Goldcorp's Musselwhite Mine In Northern Ontario, Work Suspended

    Feds Give UN $100 Mil For Syrian Refugee Relief, Including Work For Canada

    Feds Give UN $100 Mil For Syrian Refugee Relief, Including Work For Canada
    It's part of a larger $100 million contribution to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees that the Liberals promised during the election campaign.

    Feds Give UN $100 Mil For Syrian Refugee Relief, Including Work For Canada

    Federal Government Settles Wrongful Conviction Lawsuit With Ivan Henry

    B.C. Supreme Court has heard the government will settle for an undisclosed amount in the wrongful conviction lawsuit brought by Ivan Henry after his acquittal on 10 counts of sexual assault in 2010.

    Federal Government Settles Wrongful Conviction Lawsuit With Ivan Henry