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SYDNEY — Should the minimum voting age be lowered from 18 years old to 16 for local residents? And what can perspectives from international newcomers seeking permanent Canadian resident status bring to municipal governments?
“There is a richness of perspective that comes with bringing these folks into the conversation,” said Rebecca MacDonald, a team lead with CBICI’s international student retention who helped organize the group and partnership with Glace Bay High School students.
“There are a lot of structures that exist within the political system that will maintain a certain perspective ,” she said. “I just think that it is so fundamental that we are able to gain perspectives from other groups. And doing something like this would create space for people to feel that, ‘Well, if I’m included in this system, why can’t I be a part of this system?’
In a few notable past attempts, the Canadian Senate — specifically, Sen. Marilou McPhedran from Manitoba — twice introduced bills in Parliament in 2020 and 2021 seeking to amend the Canada Elections Act that would allow for the lowering of the voting age. Not long after that, a British Columbia NDP MP attempted a private member’s bill along similar lines, but that bill wound up defeated in parliament in September 2022.
“When you have to compete for younger people’s votes, you’re more willing to understand people’s needs, their interests and what sort of experiences they’re going through,” said Losier, 15. “But don’t have an outlet to share their voice.”
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