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| Mr. Rodrigo Samayoa spoke to Council on Monday about the lost voices that current voting regulations that are in place are providing for. Sseeking voting rights status for Permanent residents of Canada |
Monday's Prince Rupert City Council provided for a lesson in Canadian civics, with Council members receiving a presentation from a Prince Rupert resident, Rodrigo Samayoa who is advocating for expanding the right to vote to Permanent Residents of Canada.
As part of his eight minute overview of the current status for permanent residents, he observed as to the lengthy process that immigrants have to take towards that permanent status and how in that period they find that they have no say in decisions that are made that have an impact on their lives.
He observed for Council members how the current political arrangements work, a status where permanent residents do not have the right to vote in any level of political life in Canada and how the lengthy process towards citizenship means that some Residents of the community could go without the opportunity to participate in elections for years.
Putting the focus on the municipal scene, Mr. Samayoa noted that studies have shown that by providing for an opportunity to vote in local elections today, the participation rate in provincial and federal elections would increase as they become permanent residents.
He used his experience as a guideline of sorts as to the challenges facing immigrants.
"I myself have been in Canada living here for eleven years, have witnessed nine elections at all three levels of government, have volunteered in five elections, yet at the age of twenty eight I have never been able to vote in an election whether it be here or in my home country of Guatemala"
He further noted for the Council membership of a large list of countries that allow permanent residents the right to vote, adding that many cities in Canada are looking to move the forward initiative but that it is in the hands of the province.
Towards the initiative, Mr. Samayoa asked for the help of the City of Prince Rupert to become the first community in Northern British Columbia to pass a resolution of support for the right to vote for permanent residents and advocate for the program with the province at UBCM this September.
"It's time for local governments to start counting these lost voices and Prince Rupert can contribute by passing a resolution in support of voting rights for permanent residents. And a vote in favour of the upcoming resolution at the upcoming UBCM in September"
As part of his review for Council, Mr. Samayoa pointed to the work of Fresh Voices a Vancouver based community action group that advocates for a number of issues on behalf of Canada's immigrant and refugee communities, they are one of the leading groups in seeking the right to vote for permanent residents.
You can review their focus on the issue here and here
Following the presentation some of the council members spoke to the topic and indicated their support for the initiative and offered observations as to how the City could move forward on the topic.
"Having spent thirty years trying to encourage young people to become involved in politics, but most particularly to become voters, because that's where you get a strong democracy from. The notion of reducing the barriers to people participating in a democracy that affects their lives it seems to me to be a really positive initiative" -- Councillor Nick Adey
As for Prince Rupert Council, in the regular Council session Mayor Lee Brain moved the prospect of review of the request for support forward at the end of Monday's meeting, with Council members to consider the issue further at their next Council session in July.
For a look at the presentation to Council see the Video Archive from Monday's Council session starting at the one minute mark.
For a look at some of the other items of note from Monday's City Council session see our Council Timeline Feature here, a wider overview of City Council discussion themes can be explored from our Council Discussion page.
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