Mr. Speaker, universal suffrage, or rather the right to vote, is an essential element of democracy. Indeed some would say it is democracy itself.
A new book entitled A History of the Vote in Canada tells the story of the vote from the time of the first elected legislatures in what is now Canada up to the most recent federal election. It traces changes in vote eligibility, electioneering, voting practices and voter turnout since Confederation.
Full of rich illustrations, period photographs, drawings and cartoons, this fascinating book recounts how the right to vote has evolved over the past 250 years.
The book is not only an excellent educational resource but a durable reminder for Canadians of the significance of the right to vote and of the leadership roles that Canada has played in election practices. A History of the Vote in Canada is available at bookstores across the country.