May 14, 2015/Toronto – OCASI is delighted at the Monday, May 11, 2015 decision by North Bay City Council to support the right of permanent residents to vote in municipal and school board elections.
The successful vote is a strong expression of support for immigrant settlement and integration, and making local elections more inclusive and representative.
OCASI congratulates Don Curry of the North Bay and District Multicultural Centre and OCASI's Northern Regional Director for his determined and unwavering efforts over two years, resulting in the win at City Council.
North Bay joins the Toronto, Halifax (NS) and Saint John (NB) in calling on their respective provincial governments to extend the municipal vote to permanent residents. Ontario cities Kitchener and Guelph have expressed interest extending voting rights.
These are important steps that can result in broad-based change for immigrants. Let us build on this momentum to demonstrate support for permanent resident municipal franchise in communities across Ontario. Let us create a solid basis for change in Ontario election laws in time for the next municipal election on October 22, 2018.
Debbie Douglas
Executive Director
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See links below for media articles:
Enabling Permanent Residents To Vote Municipally is ‘Smart Thing To Do'
New Canadian Media Tuesday, 12 May 2015 Don Curry
The North Bay City Council voted last night 8-2 in support of the right of permanent residents to vote in municipal and school board elections.
City asked to support permanent resident voting
By GORD YOUNG, The Nugget Friday, May 8, 2015
City politicians will be asked Monday to support allowing permanent residents to vote in municipal elections.
Permanent residents should have right to vote, 2 Moncton men say
CBC News Posted: Apr 16, 2015
Two Moncton men are lobbying municipal councils in New Brunswick for support to allow permanent residents of the province to vote in municipal elections.
Council endorses proposal to allow permanent residents to vote in municipal elections
By Ruth Davenport Metro December 2, 2014
Halifax regional council has voted to move ahead with giving permanent residents the right to vote in municipal elections, acknowledging it won't solve the city's demographic problems – but it sends the right message.
Podcast #4: Should permanent residents be allowed to vote in Guelph?
November 27, 2014 by andybest Guelph Citizen
Permanent residents live in Guelph, pay taxes in Guelph and send their kids to learn next to ours at school.
Let permanent residents vote at municipal level
MIKE SAVAGE Published August 1, 2014 Chronicle Herald
What Halifax and Nova Scotia need more than anything else is people: to live here, work here, study here and to invest here. I think we also need them to vote here.
Permanent resident voting: A movement on the rise
Maytree Conversations July 17, 2014 Desmond Cole
Just over a year ago, Toronto city council asked the province to let permanent residents vote in municipal elections.
Give permanent residents vote, city-commissioned report says
CBC News Posted: Mar 03, 2014
A City of Kitchener-commissioned report suggests council support a Toronto-led initiative to pressure the province into changing the Municipal Elections Act so that permanent residents can vote in municipal elections.