City wants votes for permanent residents
Valérie Plante’s administration wants permanent residents to be able to vote in municipal elections, even run for municipal office, but it will mean getting the OK not only from Quebec and Ottawa but from the Union des municipalités du Québec. Somehow I think opening any election to allophones will not appeal to the CAQ.
Ian 16:20 on 2022-05-14 Permalink
Somehow I think it’s that PM want to run more candidates from France.
Kate 10:53 on 2022-05-15 Permalink
They also must know that they’d raise votes from French voters here, too.
Myles 13:29 on 2022-05-15 Permalink
It seems like a serious long shot. When I was going through the citizenship process, voting was always talked about in reverent tones as a privilege of citizenship. I can’t see the federal government changing its mind about that.
Kate 15:42 on 2022-05-15 Permalink
I agree, Myles. But it’s a pity. Turnout for city elections has been so low that it would be worth breaking this old principle to bring more people into the polling stations – besides the simple principle that anyone who’s living here long term should have a say in how the city is run. The trick is to make people see the benefits of taking an interest.