House of Commons Debate on lowering the voting age of Canadians

The House of Commons is debating today on the issue of lowering the federal voting age in Canada from 18 years to 16 years of age. 

MP Taylor Bachrach of NDP introduced this Bill C-210. This bill initiates an Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (voting age), on Dec. 13, 2021. Today’s debate will be the second reading of the week.  

“We should all be concerned that voter turnout in Canada continues to be lowest among the youngest voters and this bill seeks to improve that by forming voting habits while young people are still in school,” said NDP MP Bachrach at the House of Commons after introducing the bill.

He said that this bill will help recognize the rights of younger generation and their participation in democracy and country’s decisions. 

If this bill passes, every Canadian over the age of 16 on the polling day will be allowed to give their vote and would be counted as an elector.

Before the introduction of this bill in December 2021, many young Canadians took the federal government into court in an attempt to bring down the age for voting. 

They argued that the Canada Elections Act is violating the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which states that every Canadian has the right to vote.

Some countries of the world that have lowered the minimum age for giving voting rights to their citizens include Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Scotland, Wales and Ecuador.

Published by:

Harwinder Kaur