Just a thought experiment, what if the right to vote needed to be earned each election?
Much like you don't become a Canadian citizen if you weren't born here — you actually have to not only memorize the anthem, pass an English/French test (IELTS/DALF etc), but you also have to pass an exam and demonstrate that you know the history of Canada, its political system, geography and many other things. Just try some of these free apps that help prepare for such an exam — you'll see it's not easy and you actually have to learn things. Isn't this done to make sure you can not just assimilate but contribute to Canadian society?
Maybe if we extended democracy with some ~merit~ guardrails system that makes sure that you, at least, understand what municipal/provincial/federal gov is responsible for, how basic economics works, who pays the tariffs ;) etc — before you are eligible to vote?
We tried this as a society and we fought very hard to change and to stop this. Back in the days you needed to be a citizen, own land, own slaves, know how to read and write, be married to a man if you were a woman, have your documents approved etc.
No, voting should and must be universal. I even think that permanent residents should be allowed to vote, maybe even international students and other immigrants. They live here and pay taxes as much as any other citizen, they should have a saying about the city they chose to live in.
Just a thought experiment, what if the right to vote needed to be earned each election?
Much like you don't become a Canadian citizen if you weren't born here — you actually have to not only memorize the anthem, pass an English/French test (IELTS/DALF etc), but you also have to pass an exam and demonstrate that you know the history of Canada, its political system, geography and many other things. Just try some of these free apps that help prepare for such an exam — you'll see it's not easy and you actually have to learn things. Isn't this done to make sure you can not just assimilate but contribute to Canadian society?
Maybe if we extended democracy with some ~merit~ guardrails system that makes sure that you, at least, understand what municipal/provincial/federal gov is responsible for, how basic economics works, who pays the tariffs ;) etc — before you are eligible to vote?
We tried this as a society and we fought very hard to change and to stop this. Back in the days you needed to be a citizen, own land, own slaves, know how to read and write, be married to a man if you were a woman, have your documents approved etc.
No, voting should and must be universal. I even think that permanent residents should be allowed to vote, maybe even international students and other immigrants. They live here and pay taxes as much as any other citizen, they should have a saying about the city they chose to live in.