Bill C-295 (Historical)

An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (residence of electors)

This bill was last introduced in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session, which ended in September 2019.

Sponsor

Irene Mathyssen  NDP

Introduced as a private member’s bill. (These don’t often become law.)

Status

Outside the Order of Precedence (a private member's bill that hasn't yet won the draw that determines which private member's bills can be debated), as of June 15, 2016
(This bill did not become law.)

Summary

This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament often publishes better independent summaries.

This enactment amends the Canada Elections Act to allow all Canadian citizens to vote in a federal election, regardless of their place of residence.

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from the Library of Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

Canada Elections ActRoutine Proceedings

June 15th, 2016 / 3:15 p.m.
See context

NDP

Irene Mathyssen NDP London—Fanshawe, ON

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-295, An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (residence of electors).

Mr. Speaker, it is an honour to be given this opportunity to introduce this particular bill.

Currently, section 11(d) of the Canada Elections Act prohibits Canadian citizens from voting in federal elections once they have resided outside of Canada for more than five years.

My bill would strike down this part of the act. It is unfair and undemocratic to take away the voting rights of 1.4 million ex-pats, simply because they are engaging in opportunities abroad.

Although this restriction may have had sound policy reasons in the past, today's age of instant information transmission makes this policy archaic. Canadians overseas still have a vested interest in the Canadian government, and how laws impact their families and communities that remain in Canada. The five-year limitation simply does not conform to the 21st century demands of globalization.

Under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Canadian citizens who are 18 years and older have the right to vote and the right to enter, remain in, and leave Canada. Indeed, nowhere is it mentioned—