Extending Municipal Voting Rights
In partnership with Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office, this project aims to accelerate successful settlement by extending municipal voting rights to permanent residents. The municipal vote would allow newcomers to contribute to community life faster and achieve the skills of becoming a citizen sooner.
Latest News
On June 10, Maytree participated in a City of Toronto Public Forum on Municipal Voting Rights. Maytree’s chair, Alan Broadbent was one of the key speakers.
Mr. Broadbent published an op-ed in the June 11-issue of the Toronto Star on this issue – Should non-citizens have right to vote in municipal elections?: Yes. Read it here.
Maytree’s Manager of Leadership Programs Alejandra Bravo participated in the Globe and Mail online discussion “Should non-citizens get to vote?”. Read her debate with Marcus Gee, a Globe and Mail reporter.
Selection of other media articles covering the municipal voting issue:
- The National Post (June 11, 2009): Open Toronto voting to non-citizens, Miller urges
- Toronto Community News (June 11, 2009): CITY: Ground support needed to change municipal voting laws
- Toronto Star – op-ed arguing against the idea (June 11, 2009): Should non-citizens have right to vote in municipal elections?: No
- Toronto Star – op-ed arguing for the idea (June 11, 2009): Should non-citizens have right to vote in municipal elections?: Yes
- Toronto Community News (June 12, 2009): Time’s right to campaign for non-citizen vote
- The Toronto Star (June 12, 2009): Should long term residents be allowed to vote?
- Eye Weekly (June 12, 2009): Best idea ever: everybody votes!
- Globe and Mail (June 13, 2009): Mayor renews pledge to give landed immigrants the right to vote
- South Asian Focus (June 17, 2009): Voting rights ahead for non-citizen residents?
- Globe and Mail editorial (June 19, 2009): Don’t devalue citizenship
- Toronto Star editorial (June 21, 2009): A right to vote for non-citizens?
For more information, visit the I Vote Toronto website.
Download the Policy in Focus publication Listening to the Voices of Newcomers Will Create Stronger Cities to learn about one way that local government can reinvigorate itself to better engage its city residents.
