Born in Canada does not mean you can vote (5 year expat)

[ZenOps]

http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...r-court-ruling

Wait whut? Just before a federal election, they make is so that 1.4 million Canadians that could vote before the change - can't. If you have been born in Canada, but away for five years - No vote for you!

Which BTW, is the complete opposite of the US. In the US they will make you pay dual taxes if you have been away from the US for sixty years - it does not matter.

[ExtraSlow]

I have a couple of buddies who have been hit with this. they are mega pissed. I however don't see it as a big issue. Maybe five years is a bit short, but I'm cool with folks losing the privilege of voting after some amount of time.

[sabad66]

Interesting... I'd be curious about the demographic of the 1.4mm people, specifically on how they would vote. Without thinking about it too deeply, I'd guess that expats are more right leaning than left. I wonder how much this will affect the election results.

[JRSC00LUDE]

Why should you have a say in the election if you haven't lived here for five years?

[killramos]

Originally posted by JRSC00LUDE
Why should you have a say in the election if you haven't lived here for five years?

This.

In many cases these same people are eligible to vote in the jurisdictions they are actually living and working in as well.

I don't see any benefit to allowing people who don't need to suffer the consequences of their voting (laws, taxes, etc.) being allowed to vote.

Should we let Americans who vacation in Canada vote here to? Because vacations are about all that these ex pats end up spending in Canada.

[dirtsniffer]

I totally agree with the change.

[ZenOps]

I mainly have a problem with the courts having power over this. Does the Crown decide how long is too long a time to be out of the country? Is two weeks too short? Is twenty years too long?

Who decides does have a large bearing on voting outcome. You can skip an entire generation of voters in twenty years, you can skip an entire war in five (IE: You couldn't vote nazi during WWII if they were already dissolved by the time the demographics had changed.)

Having it solely based on birth does remove the arbitary period of time that one would have to assume to be "worthy" of voting. Would Conservatives prefer two years, and NDP twenty?

To make things even clearer, maybe they should just revoke voting ability right at the instant of border passage.

[killramos]

The courts don't make you an expat. Your decision to live, work, and take up permanent residency in another country does.

[dirtsniffer]

Zenops, you should really figure that out the difference between the 3 branches of Canadian government.

[pheoxs]

Of the estimated 2.8 million Canadians living abroad, only 6,000 actually cast a ballot in the last general election.

From the article, not nearly as big of difference as you're making it seem. If someone hasn't been a resident of Canada for 5+ years I don't see an issue with them not voting for who runs the country. If they move back to Canada they regain their right to vote, it isn't permanently revoked.

[cancer man]

So these people are butt hurt who cares..Live in Canada.

[Feruk]

I have dual citizenship in a EU country but haven't lived there in a long time. I NEVER vote there because I don't think it's fair to vote for something that will have no consequences for me. I think if you don't live in Canada, you shouldn't be voting in Canadian politics.

[sputnik]

Originally posted by JRSC00LUDE
Why should you have a say in the election if you haven't lived here for five years?

Agreed 100%.

It was like all of the Canadians living in Lebanon who wanted Canada to save them from the conflict a number of years ago even though they haven't lived in Canada for 10+ years.

Canada needs to put a foot down when it comes to people who leave for extended periods of time.