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Non-Citizens Right To Vote

Non-Citizens Right To Vote

Machjo

#31

Re: Non-Citizens Right To Vote

Jun 18th, 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by DurkaDurka

So paying taxes should automatically allow you to vote? I don't think so. Paying your taxes is one small part of your civic responsibilities.

So what about a foreign worker paying his taxes and giving of his time to the community. Some do in faxct do that, and I've met some. Likewise, I've met Canadians abroad who likewise give to their local communities where they live. The fact that a person is not a citizen of Canada doesn't mean he doesn't love it and gives of his time and money to the community. That's why I think residency would make more sense than citizenship. Inversely, we can have Canadian-born citizens who've never lived abroad who couldn't care less about anyone but themselves. Citizenship as it currently stands is but a legal term that in no way says anything about a person's character, patriotism, etc.

pegger

No Party Affiliation

#32

Re: Non-Citizens Right To Vote

Jun 18th, 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by Machjo

So waht about a citizen on social assistance or receiving disability insurance, etc.

They are still submitting tax returns - just paying taxes of $0.

DurkaDurka

No Party Affiliation

#33

Re: Non-Citizens Right To Vote

Jun 18th, 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by Machjo

So waht about a citizen on social assistance or receiving disability insurance, etc.

They are already a citizen so what they contribute in taxes is of little relevance.

Machjo

#34

Re: Non-Citizens Right To Vote

Jun 18th, 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by DurkaDurka

They are already a citizen so what they contribute in taxes is of little relevance.

I was simply pointing out that some non-citizens are contributing more in taxes to Canada than some citizens do, and then, on top of taxes, some give of their time and money too. Like I said, 've met some and so know they exist.

karrie

No Party Affiliation

#35

Re: Non-Citizens Right To Vote

Jun 18th, 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by Machjo

I was simply pointing out that some non-citizens are contributing more in taxes to Canada than some citizens do, and then, on top of taxes, some give of their time and money too. Like I said, 've met some and so know they exist.

Landed immigrants already have the opportunity to vote. They simply need to become citizens. It's pretty easy once you're a landed immigrant. If they choose not to engage themselves fully in the country, that's their choice. Simple.

Citizenship, residency, AND a tax return. You can't pick which one should be necessary to vote, when all should.

DurkaDurka

No Party Affiliation

#36

Re: Non-Citizens Right To Vote

Jun 18th, 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by Machjo

So what about a foreign worker paying his taxes and giving of his time to the community. Some do in faxct do that, and I've met some. Likewise, I've met Canadians abroad who likewise give to their local communities where they live. The fact that a person is not a citizen of Canada doesn't mean he doesn't love it and gives of his time and money to the community. That's why I think residency would make more sense than citizenship. Inversely, we can have Canadian-born citizens who've never lived abroad who couldn't care less about anyone but themselves. Citizenship as it currently stands is but a legal term that in no way says anything about a person's character, patriotism, etc.

I agree that residents/permanent residents contribute greatly to their adopted homelands but unless they put the effort into becoming a citizen, they shouldn't reap the benefits that a citizen has, such as voting.

Obtaining citizenship shows a general devotion to one's new country and sets them apart from the "resident" in my opinion.

DurkaDurka

No Party Affiliation

#37

Re: Non-Citizens Right To Vote

Jun 18th, 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by Machjo

I was simply pointing out that some non-citizens are contributing more in taxes to Canada than some citizens do, and then, on top of taxes, some give of their time and money too. Like I said, 've met some and so know they exist.

I agree with you, but if they are doing that well for them selves in this country then they should become citizens.

Machjo

#38

Re: Non-Citizens Right To Vote

Jun 18th, 2009

I guess it's a matter of perspective. If I move from Victoria to Montreal on some business contract for a few years, I immediately lose my right to vote in Victoria and BC elections and gain the right to vote in Montreal and Quebec elections, even if only for a few years. Once I return to Victoria, it all automatically switches back again. Looing at it along the same lines, what about an American who'll move to Canada for a few years on a contract, or an international student. While here, some of them do in fact give of their time. For isntance, I knew a Ghanan student a few years ago who volunteered to teach literacy to illiterate Canadian adults on Saturdays for a few hours, for no other reason than that it was in his ethic to give to the local community wherever he was, and in his mind, while in Victoria, he was a Victorian.

Again, I'm not saying you're wrong, but just that we have different perspectives. I would associate voting more with residency, while you associate it more with citizenship. All I'd say is that as long as we're consistent. For example, I don't think a Canadian living abroad should be allowed to vote in Canada any more than a Victorian in Montreal should be allowed to vote in Victoria. Likewsie, think a foreigner in Canada should be allowed to vote just as a Victorian living in Montreal should be allowed to vote in Montreal.

Your perspective would be more along the lines that the victorian should vote in Victoria no matter where he lives, and an out-of-towner living in Montreal should not be allowed to vote in Montreal. Both are valid arguments, just depending on whether we have a residential or citizenship view of voting rights.

petros

#39

Re: Non-Citizens Right To Vote

Jun 18th, 2009

Quote:

If I move from Victoria to Montreal on some business contract for a few years, I immediately lose my right to vote in Victoria and BC elections and gain the right to vote in Montreal and Quebec elections, even if only for a few years.

You can vote after 3 months of taking up a healtcard in the province you reside in since your old card is good for 3 month that is a total of 6 months of residence in order to vote..

Machjo

#40

Re: Non-Citizens Right To Vote

Jun 18th, 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by petros

You can vote after 3 months of taking up a healtcard in the province you reside in since your old card is good for 3 month that is a total of 6 months of residence in order to vote..

Thanks for the correction. Though in my opinion, it should be immediately on adopting a new pace of residence to be fair.

petros

#41

Re: Non-Citizens Right To Vote

Jun 18th, 2009

It's an elections canada thing so that people can't emigrate specifically to vote.

Machjo

#42

Re: Non-Citizens Right To Vote

Jun 18th, 2009

Quote: Originally Posted by petros

It's an elections canada thing so that people can't emigrate specifically to vote.

That could be fair enough as long as I maintain my right to vote in the previous place of residence's elections in the meantime. Just a matter of principle. I must certainly be living somewhere, and so should have the right to vote somewhere too. So if I can't vote in Montreal for 6 months after moving there, then I should reserve the right to vote in Victoria elections in the meantime to be fair.

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