Extending Municipal Voting Rights to Permanent Residents
IT IS THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT Alberta Municipalities advocate for the Government of Alberta to amend the Local Authorities Election Act to expand voter eligibility to include individuals who have been granted Canadian permanent resident status.
WHEREAS our responsibility as municipalities extends to all who people who call our communities’ home;
WHEREAS permanent residents are community members who have demonstrated a commitment to our communities and, like citizens, contribute to civic life, have chosen to work here, raise families here, pay taxes here, and who use and support municipal services; however, permanent residents do not have the democratic right to vote in their local municipality;
WHEREAS the right to vote in federal elections is enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms for those with Canadian citizenship, the right to vote provincially is defined in Alberta’s Election Act, and the right to vote in municipal elections is defined in Alberta’s Local Authorities Election Act;
WHEREAS all orders of government make decisions that directly impact the daily lives of all residents, regardless of their citizenship status; and
WHEREAS municipal governments have a unique legislative opportunity to honour the contributions of Permanent Residents – who are long-term constituents, neighbours, and community members who pay property taxes and fees for municipal services, contribute to our local economy by working and purchasing goods and services, and create vibrancy in areas of social and cultural life – by extending them a democratic voice in local governments.
Definition of a Permanent Resident: A permanent resident is a person who has legally immigrated to Canada and has been granted the status of a permanent resident but is not a Canadian citizen. Permanent residents can live, work, or study anywhere in Canada, and access most social and health benefits. Permanent residents must also pay all taxes in Canada and respect all Canadian laws. Permanent residents may be in the process of applying for Canadian citizenship, which takes a minimum of 4-5 years after immigrating to Canada.
National Context: The term franchise, or enfranchisement, denotes the right to vote in elections for members of Parliament, provincial legislatures and municipal councils. As municipalities exist as a result of Provincial legislation, the opportunity exists to afford municipal voting rights to Citizens and Permanent Residents alike through an act of the Alberta Provincial Government amending the Local Authorities Election Act.
Canada has a history of expanding voting rights as our values evolve. Consider that dating back to the colonial period, restrictions once effectively limited the right to vote to male property holders. Since then, voting qualifications and voter eligibility have expanded, removing the restrictions on women, First Nations, Inuit, and Asian Canadians’ right to vote, and eventually affirming the right of every Citizen to vote.
The expansion of voter eligibility reflects Canada’s evolving social values and a more reflective understanding of what it means to contribute to Canadian society. Currently, New Brunswick is drafting legislation to be the first province in Canada to give permanent residents the right to vote in local elections after bipartisan legislation recognized permanent residents as significant members of the community deserving of enfranchisement in local elections. (1) In addition, Toronto City Council (2) and Vancouver City Council (3) have passed motions calling on their respective provincial governments to enable permanent residents the right to vote locally.
(2) Council votes in favour of electoral reform measures | CBC News
International Context: On an international level, permanent residents, or their equivalent, have the right to vote in local elections in over 45 nations around the world under various circumstances including, but not limited to:
- U.S.A. (in various states)
- United Kingdom (including Wales and Scotland)
- Ireland
- Germany
- Belgium
- Greece
- New Zealand
- Switzerland
- Denmark
- Finland
- Belize
- Austria
- Netherlands
- Israel
- Australia
- And more…
Alignment with Alberta Municipalities’ Strategic Initiatives The expansion of democratic participation to permanent residents aligns with several strategic initiatives such as:
- Fostering a Culture of Respect
- Welcoming and Inclusive Communities
- Local Authorities Election Act
Granting permanent residents the right to vote provides several benefits across the above strategic initiatives of Alberta Municipalities. The right to vote democratically further enshrines the mutual respect we have for immigrants in our communities. Civic participation fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility amongst community, strengthens social cohesion, and ensures that governments are responsive to the needs and aspirations of the people they represent. (4) By ensuring our community members are represented in local elections, we can create stronger communities.
(4) Why Civic Engagement Matters in Democracy? - Modern Diplomacy
The provincial government has made changes to the Local Authorities Election Act (LAEA) with, and without, the advocacy of Alberta Municipalities. This would be an opportunity to make an amendment to the LAEA that will greatly strengthen our communities and ensure our democracy is reflective of the communities we serve.
Other Considerations: In Alberta, our elected leaders at the provincial level must win the nomination of their party’s constituency association for the riding wherein they seek the nomination. To win the nomination in a riding, a candidate must receive a majority vote of eligible party members in that riding. The eligibility for party membership varies, but for example, the United Conservative Party will allow membership to: (5)
(5) Membership – The United Conservative Party Alberta Municipalities
- Residents of Alberta
- People aged 14 and above
- Citizens and Permanent Residents of Canada
- Have paid the fee
When considering the democratic process is heavily influenced by the candidates who run for leadership, it is relevant information that permanent residents are able to vote for the leader of a party and vote for candidates to secure their nominations. By proxy, permanent residents can contribute to the selection of the Premier of Alberta and their local MLAs but are unable to vote for their local elected officials.
Permanent Residents are now eligible to become Police Officers. (6)
(6) Attracting skilled workers to protect communities | alberta.ca
- Recently, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program announced new eligibility to allow Permanent Residents eligibility for recruitment into Police Services, including sworn officers and civilian positions.
- This change allows Police Services to recruit international officers into the service.
Permanent Residents are now eligible to join the Canadian Forces. (7)
- Since 2022, in response to the growing need for stability in the Canadian Armed Forces, the ban on permanent residents enrolling in the Canadian Armed Forces was lifted.
- Permanent residents are now eligible to join the Canadian Armed Forces to alleviate what was viewed as a critical shortfall in personnel.
This issue relates to ABmunis work to support municipalities to create welcoming and inclusive communities, and ABmunis’ principles that local elections should be inclusive and locally focused; however, ABmunis does not currently have a position on whether permanent residents should be eligible to vote in municipal elections. If this resolution is passed, it would be forwarded to the Government of Alberta for response. Further advocacy would be recommended to ABmunis’ Board by the Municipal Governance Committee within the context of related priorities and positions.