By Ann Mariya Nedumthottiyil

“The Right to Vote is only meaningful when you use it.”

Jean-Pierre Kingsley (Former Chief Electoral Officer of Canada)

Mandatory voting has a relevant history in Canadian politics. It was proposed as a bill (Bill S-22) in 2005 and did not become law for various reasons. It is the right time to suggest it again for the same reason it was proposed earlier: less voter turnout.

Decreasing voter turnout is a real issue for a democratic country like Canada. A democracy is where the majority of people elect their representatives through elections to carry out the majority’s decisions in a country. If the majority shows no interest in the election process, then there is a high chance of overlooking the likes and dislikes of the citizens.

Decreasing Turnout

Elections Canada researched the case of decreasing turnout, and the studies show the reasons behind the declining interest. Compared to the older generation, youth participation in the elections has been declining over the years. Lack of interest, negative attitudes towards politicians and political parties, and the lack of polling information were the primary reasons for people to refrain from the elections.

The voter turnout of Canadian citizens from the age group 18-24, the future generation, was only 47%, whereas 75% of citizens from the age group 65-74 participated in the recent federal elections held in 2021. This notable difference should be considered if the government wants to protect democracy from collapsing. It was not very different for the provincial elections. The 2022 Ontario general elections had only 44% voter turnout from the 11 million total voters of the province. This is why we have to adopt mandatory voting.

Why not make voting mandatory?

In 2005, the bill did not become law because of the following two primary reasons:

1. Restriction of personal choice

Fundamental Freedoms in the Canadian Constitution allow the citizens the freedom of thought, belief, opinion, and expression. If mandatory voting becomes law, this restricts the personal freedom of the citizens to refrain from the election.

2. Potential for uninformed votes

There is a potential for increased uninformed votes if it is a forceful law to vote. Since it is compulsory, people might not look into it further and then vote for someone which will cause misinterpretation and might affect the actual results of the election.

Why we should make voting mandatory

There are certain advantages if mandatory voting were to become law:

1. Voting – Base of Democracy

People fought for their Right to Vote to ensure the active participation of everyone without any discrimination and to represent everyone’s needs despite their various social and economic situations in a democratic government. As Abraham Lincoln said, a democratic government should be “of the people, by the people, and for the people.” This is attained through the voting and election process and is meaningless if the country has a low voter turnout. Mandatory voting will ensure everyone’s preference is represented in the country’s government.

2. High voter turnout

Active participation of the citizens in elections leads to the political stability of the parties and the government. Mandatory voting will increase the voter turnout percentage, which is currently very low, which is a drawback for an active democratic country. A successful example is Australia, where voter turnout is 80% to 90% in every election.

3. Inclusive government

The government should ensure equal representation from every section of the society, both majority and minority. This guarantees that everyone’s voice is heard equally in a governing body and leads to an inclusive government, a healthy way to maintain democracy in a country.

Saving Democracy

Adopting mandatory voting could save democracy from collapsing and ensure an inclusive government where every citizen matters and every voice is heard. Compulsory voting guarantees citizens’ active participation in a country’s decision-making process. It is crucial in a democratic country to listen and act according to the majority’s wishes. To achieve that goal, everyone needs to vote. By voting, citizens would develop a sense of belonging and more trust in the government. Adopting mandatory voting would ensure a healthy democracy.

The following article was published in the Hamilton Spectator.

Canadian society is built on the idea that homeownership is the route to a prosperous middle-class lifestyle. Today with many young Canadians wondering how they will purchase their first home, it is time to re-examine the typical pathways to homeownership. 

For those with intergenerational wealth, homeownership remains quite accessible. A 2021 report by CIBC found that 30% of buyers received gifts of on average $82,000 from family to help with their first home purchase. This was a dramatic increase from 2015 when 20% of first-time buyers received on average $52,000 in support. Unfortunately, those seeking to purchase a home without family assistance face daunting timelines. National Bank of Canada recently found that even with recent price declines, an average family would require close to 25 years to save enough for a downpayment on a home in Toronto. Despite these obstacles, based on survey research I conducted with Conestoga College Professor Domenica De Pasquale and University of Waterloo Assistant Professor Sean Geobey, in partnership with the shared equity organization – Ourboro – we found that interest in homeownership remains high among renters. Using a sample of 2,086 Ontarians contacted in early February 2023, we found that 20% of renters planned to purchase their first home in the next year and half expected to purchase a home within the next five years. Many of these individuals will likely face disappointment as Statistics Canada research suggests that only 5% of renters become homeowners each year.

To continue reading please visit the Hamilton Spectator.