I was only out of Canada for a couple of months by the time the last election came along and I wasn't allowed to vote.... which was crap. I checked online on the government's web site and filled out my details, and since I wasn't planning on returning back into Canada right away, I wasn't allowed to vote, which was BS if you ask me.
I think the excuse had something to do with me no longer having a perm. address of living back in NS.
One would think I should still be allowed to vote in the area I last called home back in Nova Scotia..... I am still a Canadian Citizen and last I checked, I have the right to vote just like any other Canadian Citizen.
While I'm living in Australia, I am not an Australian Citizen and currently going through the process of Perm. Resident Application..... either way, I can not vote in Australia..... yet I can't vote in Canada anymore either.
I don't know wtf this 5 year thing is all about, cuz I haven't even been out of the country for that long and still wasn't allowed to vote.
The rule denying the vote to Canadians outside the country for more than five years was enacted in 1993 amid debate about the strength of their ties to Canada and how well informed they are about the domestic political situation.
The Strength of one's ties to Canada and how well informed they are about the domestic political situation is very subjective to the individual.
I still have friends and family back in Canada, I still plan to return from time to time (when work and money permit) to visit my friends and family..... I still read the news in Canada almost every day.... hell, I'm still posting in here. I'm probably more informed on the domestic political situation than most average Canadians living inside of Canada.