As many as 1.4 million more Canadians are now eligible to vote, some of whom could end up casting ballots in the four byelections Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced for June 30.
Two Canadians living in the U.S. had challenged the rules that disenfranchised expatriates abroad for five years or more. They argued the provisions were arbitrary and unreasonable, and therefore violated their constitutional right as citizens to vote.
In his ruling, Justice Michael Penny noted that mass murderers have the right to vote, but the long-term expats, "who care deeply about Canada," do not have the right.
Penny rejected government arguments that allowing non-residents to vote was somehow unfair to resident Canadians.
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According to UN Statistics, some 215 million people lived outside their home country in 2011.
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Two Canadians living in the U.S. had challenged the rules that disenfranchised expatriates abroad for five years or more. They argued the provisions were arbitrary and unreasonable, and therefore violated their constitutional right as citizens to vote.
In his ruling, Justice Michael Penny noted that mass murderers have the right to vote, but the long-term expats, "who care deeply about Canada," do not have the right.
Penny rejected government arguments that allowing non-residents to vote was somehow unfair to resident Canadians.
According to UN Statistics, some 215 million people lived outside their home country in 2011.
Read more »
