Latest news with #YoungPoliticiansofCanada
National Observer
6 days ago
- Politics
- National Observer
Canada should follow U.K.'s initiative to lower voting age to 16, says senator
Now that the British government has vowed to lower its voting age to 16 by the next general election, one Canadian senator says it's past time for Canada to do the same. The U.K. announced last week that it would lower its voting age from 18 to 16 in a bid to strengthen British democracy and restore trust in politics. Sen. Marilou McPhedran said the issue has been her "top parliamentary priority" since she joined the Red Chamber. She said lowering the voting age to 16 would be good for democracy and that the only arguments against it are "based on stereotypes." McPhedran said decisions being made in Canada now will affect younger generations and that extending voting rights to younger people is "logical" and "about fairness." She added that about a third of 16-year-olds in Canada have some form of employment and are already taxpayers. Sixteen-year-old Jaden Braves and the organization he leads, Young Politicians of Canada, want to see the federal voting age lowered to 16. He told The Canadian Press that Canada "has to stop living in the shadow of other countries' innovation that's progressing faster than ours." "I think we need to stop being the country that waits for somebody else to take leadership on something we clearly have the chance to progress forward on," he said. "Hopefully we'll learn some lessons soon." Braves lamented the many bills that have been introduced in Canada over the past 20 years to lower the voting age that ultimately failed to pass. McPhedran's most recent bill to lower the federal voting age to 16 was introduced at the end of May. She said it's her priority to get it to second reading and into committee when Parliament resumes in September. "What happened last time was prorogation and an election," she said. Prorogation killed the bill after it reached second reading in the Senate. "But this time our push is to ensure that young voices, young leaders are heard directly by senators, and I feel quite confident that when that happens, skeptics will turn around," McPhedran added. McPhedran said she thinks what's happening in the U.K. will "make a difference" for a number of senators as she continues to push the bill forward. During debates on previous bills, some senators and MPs have pushed back against arguments in favour of lowering the voting age, such as the suggestion that it would increase voter turnout. Some have also questioned the maturity of youth to cast an informed ballot and debated what standards should be used to justify whether to lower the voting age. Britain's voting age last fell in 1969, when the U.K. became one of the first major democracies to lower it from 21 to 18. Many other countries quickly followed suit; Canada lowered its voting age to 18 in 1970. Several countries already have a voting age of 16, including Austria, Brazil and Ecuador. Scotland and Wales allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in local and regional elections. Michael Wigginton, a post-doctoral fellow in political science at Carleton University, said the U.K. government's decision represents a "fairly natural progression," coming a decade after Scotland started allowing 16-year-olds to vote for members of the Scottish Parliament and in municipal elections. "Having that sort of local example to point to makes it easier for both politicians and the public at large to feel comfortable that the reform can work for the U.K. Parliament and not have negative effects," said Wigginton. Efforts are being made across Canada to lower the voting age. In 2021, young Canadians filed an application at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to challenge the voting age, arguing that the Canada Elections Act is in violation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and is unconstitutional. Toronto recently passed a motion allowing 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in polls at the neighbourhood level on planning and policy issues. And a provincial committee looking at ways to boost democratic engagement in BC is examining a lower voting age. Wigginton said that while he doesn't expect Canada to immediately adopt a voting age of 16, having the U.K. as an example will "definitely push the issue into the spotlight more and increase the chances of it happening it the future." "What I see is most likely is that one or more provinces will adopt a lower voting age first and then the federal government may eventually follow suit," he said.
Global News
6 days ago
- Politics
- Global News
Canada should follow U.K. in lowering voting age to 16: senator
Now that the British government has vowed to lower its voting age to 16 by the next general election, one Canadian senator says it's past time for Canada to do the same. The U.K. announced last week that it would lower its voting age from 18 to 16 in a bid to strengthen British democracy and restore trust in politics. Sen. Marilou McPhedran said the issue has been her 'top parliamentary priority' since she joined the Red Chamber. She said lowering the voting age to 16 would be good for democracy and that the only arguments against it are 'based on stereotypes.' McPhedran said decisions being made in Canada now will affect younger generations and that extending voting rights to younger people is 'logical' and 'about fairness.' She added that about a third of 16-year-olds in Canada have some form of employment and are already taxpayers. Story continues below advertisement Sixteen-year-old Jaden Braves and the organization he leads, Young Politicians of Canada, want to see the federal voting age lowered to 16. He told The Canadian Press that Canada 'has to stop living in the shadow of other countries' innovation that's progressing faster than ours.' 'I think we need to stop being the country that waits for somebody else to take leadership on something we clearly have the chance to progress forward on,' he said. 'Hopefully we'll learn some lessons soon.' Braves lamented the many bills that have been introduced in Canada over the past 20 years to lower the voting age that ultimately failed to pass. McPhedran's most recent bill to lower the federal voting age to 16 was introduced at the end of May. She said it's her priority to get it to second reading and into committee when Parliament resumes in September. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'What happened last time was prorogation and an election,' she said. Prorogation killed the bill after it reached second reading in the Senate. 2:07 Courting the youth vote in the Nova Scotia election 'But this time our push is to ensure that young voices, young leaders are heard directly by senators, and I feel quite confident that when that happens, skeptics will turn around,' McPhedran added. Story continues below advertisement McPhedran said she thinks what's happening in the U.K. will 'make a difference' for a number of senators as she continues to push the bill forward. During debates on previous bills, some senators and MPs have pushed back against arguments in favour of lowering the voting age, such as the suggestion that it would increase voter turnout. Some have also questioned the maturity of youth to cast an informed ballot and debated what standards should be used to justify whether to lower the voting age. Britain's voting age last fell in 1969, when the U.K. became one of the first major democracies to lower it from 21 to 18. Many other countries quickly followed suit; Canada lowered its voting age to 18 in 1970. Several countries already have a voting age of 16, including Austria, Brazil and Ecuador. Scotland and Wales allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in local and regional elections. Michael Wigginton, a post-doctoral fellow in political science at Carleton University, said the U.K. government's decision represents a 'fairly natural progression,' coming a decade after Scotland started allowing 16-year-olds to vote for members of the Scottish Parliament and in municipal elections. 'Having that sort of local example to point to makes it easier for both politicians and the public at large to feel comfortable that the reform can work for the U.K. Parliament and not have negative effects,' said Wigginton. Story continues below advertisement Efforts are being made across Canada to lower the voting age. In 2021, young Canadians filed an application at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to challenge the voting age, arguing that the Canada Elections Act is in violation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and is unconstitutional. Toronto recently passed a motion allowing 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in polls at the neighbourhood level on planning and policy issues. And a provincial committee looking at ways to boost democratic engagement in B.C. is examining a lower voting age. Wigginton said that while he doesn't expect Canada to immediately adopt a voting age of 16, having the U.K. as an example will 'definitely push the issue into the spotlight more and increase the chances of it happening it the future.' 'What I see is most likely is that one or more provinces will adopt a lower voting age first and then the federal government may eventually follow suit,' he said. — With files from The Associated Press
Hamilton Spectator
7 days ago
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Canada should follow U.K.‘s move to lower voting age to 16, says senator
OTTAWA - Now that the British government has vowed to lower its voting age to 16 by the next general election, one Canadian senator says it's past time for Canada to do the same. The U.K. announced last week that it would lower its voting age from 18 to 16 in a bid to strengthen British democracy and restore trust in politics. Sen. Marilou McPhedran said the issue has been her 'top parliamentary priority' since she joined the Red Chamber. She said lowering the voting age to 16 would be good for democracy and that the only arguments against it are 'based on stereotypes.' McPhedran said decisions being made in Canada now will affect younger generations and that extending voting rights to younger people is 'logical' and 'about fairness.' She added that about a third of 16-year-olds in Canada have some form of employment and are already taxpayers. Sixteen-year-old Jaden Braves and the organization he leads, Young Politicians of Canada, want to see the federal voting age lowered to 16. He told The Canadian Press that Canada 'has to stop living in the shadow of other countries' innovation that's progressing faster than ours.' 'I think we need to stop being the country that waits for somebody else to take leadership on something we clearly have the chance to progress forward on,' he said. 'Hopefully we'll learn some lessons soon.' Braves lamented the many bills that have been introduced in Canada over the past 20 years to lower the voting age that ultimately failed to pass. McPhedran's most recent bill to lower the federal voting age to 16 was introduced at the end of May. She said it's her priority to get it to second reading and into committee when Parliament resumes in September. 'What happened last time was prorogation and an election,' she said. Prorogation killed the bill after it reached second reading in the Senate. 'But this time our push is to ensure that young voices, young leaders are heard directly by senators, and I feel quite confident that when that happens, skeptics will turn around,' McPhedran added. McPhedran said she thinks what's happening in the U.K. will 'make a difference' for a number of senators as she continues to push the bill forward. During debates on previous bills, some senators and MPs have pushed back against arguments in favour of lowering the voting age, such as the suggestion that it would increase voter turnout. Some have also questioned the maturity of youth to cast an informed ballot and debated what standards should be used to justify whether to lower the voting age. Britain's voting age last fell in 1969, when the U.K. became one of the first major democracies to lower it from 21 to 18. Many other countries quickly followed suit; Canada lowered its voting age to 18 in 1970. Several countries already have a voting age of 16, including Austria, Brazil and Ecuador. Scotland and Wales allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote in local and regional elections. Michael Wigginton, a post-doctoral fellow in political science at Carleton University, said the U.K. government's decision represents a 'fairly natural progression,' coming a decade after Scotland started allowing 16-year-olds to vote for members of the Scottish Parliament and in municipal elections. 'Having that sort of local example to point to makes it easier for both politicians and the public at large to feel comfortable that the reform can work for the U.K. Parliament and not have negative effects,' said Wigginton. Efforts are being made across Canada to lower the voting age. In 2021, young Canadians filed an application at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to challenge the voting age, arguing that the Canada Elections Act is in violation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and is unconstitutional. Toronto recently passed a motion allowing 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in polls at the neighbourhood level on planning and policy issues. And a provincial committee looking at ways to boost democratic engagement in B.C. is examining a lower voting age. Wigginton said that while he doesn't expect Canada to immediately adopt a voting age of 16, having the U.K. as an example will 'definitely push the issue into the spotlight more and increase the chances of it happening it the future.' 'What I see is most likely is that one or more provinces will adopt a lower voting age first and then the federal government may eventually follow suit,' he said. — With files from The Associated Press This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 23, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Toronto Star
31-05-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Gen Z Canadians make push for end to hyperpartisanship
OTTAWA - Hundreds of Gen Z Canadians met in the capital Friday calling for less partisanship at a time of heightened global polarization and uncertainty. Participants from across the country at the first-of-its-kind youth summit joined forces to break 'hyperpartisanship' and push for a future where political parties work together in the country's best interests. 'I think it's about the next generation having the incumbency to take on that challenge of breaking out of this entrapment of this understanding as if party lines are the solution and are the answer,' said 16-year-old Jaden Braves, founder of the Young Politicians of Canada. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Braves said between 500 and 1,000 people from across the country took part in the summit virtually or in person. He said there's a strong sense of engagement among youth right now, spurred on by ongoing tensions with the United States. 'Young Canadians are interested in a strong Canada,' Braves said. 'Youth of this generation are recognizing how precious and important our sovereignty and our national identity is.' 'The more involved we are, the stronger a message we send to not just neighbored allies, but to our government.' Young Politicians of Canada, which was formed in early 2023, recently sent a delegation to Washington to receive a briefing from the National Security Council at the White House. Once back in Canada, the group delivered a report to the government about tariffs and security strategies. Meilun Yu, who is from Toronto but is studying at the University of Pennsylvania, was a part of that group. At 18 years old, Yu said it's important to talk to other youth in Canada about current issues because the perspectives of younger people are often ignored. Nineteen-year-old Leslie Iradukunda, who is from Winnipeg and is studying at the University of Ottawa, said the state of Canada-U.S. relations has pushed her to get more involved in politics. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW During the event, attendees had the chance to voice their opinions on policy issues — like climate change, online safety and civic engagement — and vote on how to shape the Young Politicians of Canada's advocacy. The lineup of speakers for an evening event Friday included the ambassadors for Ukraine, Germany and Estonia, Sen. Marilou McPhedran, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May and Speaker of the House of Commons Francis Scarpaleggia. B.C. Liberal Jake Sawatsky, who defeated long-time NDP MP Peter Julian in last month's election, replaced Scarpaleggia who was unable to attend. 'I am so inspired by the fact that we've built a national force where thousands of young Canadians can gather, create our guideline and our expectations of how the government is handling policy that's affecting our futures,' Braves said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Gen Z Canadians make push for end to hyperpartisanship
OTTAWA – Hundreds of Gen Z Canadians met in the capital Friday calling for less partisanship at a time of heightened global polarization and uncertainty. Participants from across the country at the first-of-its-kind youth summit joined forces to break 'hyperpartisanship' and push for a future where political parties work together in the country's best interests. 'I think it's about the next generation having the incumbency to take on that challenge of breaking out of this entrapment of this understanding as if party lines are the solution and are the answer,' said 16-year-old Jaden Braves, founder of the Young Politicians of Canada. Braves said between 500 and 1,000 people from across the country took part in the summit virtually or in person. He said there's a strong sense of engagement among youth right now, spurred on by ongoing tensions with the United States. 'Young Canadians are interested in a strong Canada,' Braves said. 'Youth of this generation are recognizing how precious and important our sovereignty and our national identity is.' 'The more involved we are, the stronger a message we send to not just neighbored allies, but to our government.' Young Politicians of Canada, which was formed in early 2023, recently sent a delegation to Washington to receive a briefing from the National Security Council at the White House. Once back in Canada, the group delivered a report to the government about tariffs and security strategies. Meilun Yu, who is from Toronto but is studying at the University of Pennsylvania, was a part of that group. At 18 years old, Yu said it's important to talk to other youth in Canada about current issues because the perspectives of younger people are often ignored. Nineteen-year-old Leslie Iradukunda, who is from Winnipeg and is studying at the University of Ottawa, said the state of Canada-U.S. relations has pushed her to get more involved in politics. During the event, attendees had the chance to voice their opinions on policy issues — like climate change, online safety and civic engagement — and vote on how to shape the Young Politicians of Canada's advocacy. The lineup of speakers for an evening event Friday included the ambassadors for Ukraine, Germany and Estonia, Sen. Marilou McPhedran, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May and Speaker of the House of Commons Francis Scarpaleggia. 'I am so inspired by the fact that we've built a national force where thousands of young Canadians can gather, create our guideline and our expectations of how the government is handling policy that's affecting our futures,' Braves said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2025.
