City ponders truly universal suffrage

City hall is pondering truly universal suffrage – giving all residents the right to vote in municipal elections, regardless of their citizenship status. Given the pathetic response of voters at this level – fewer than half of eligible voters can be arsed to get out and vote – and the number of people who live here who are permanent residents but not citizens, it would be a smart move to get more people involved in civic politics.

Footnote: recently an acquaintance told me he had received his Canadian residency papers. I responded “Congratulations!” and he laughed. This is a man who has lived in various places and already has citizenship in two other countries. “It’s only Canadians who offer congratulations about this kind of thing, and you all do,” he told me.