Delegates at the annual Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Vancouver have endorsed a Victoria resolution asking the province to allow permanent residents to vote in municipal elections.
According to the resolution, more than 45 countries have granted permanent residents some form of voting rights, including seven jurisdictions in the U.S. and 25 European Union countries. The resolution also states 11 municipalities are working toward extending local election voting rights to permanent residents.
The resolution says the province has the governing authority to implement electoral legislative changes and therefore, can make the necessary changes to allow permanent residents to vote in municipal elections in Victoria and other municipalities and regional districts. The resolution will be looked at by the province.
Right now, permanent residents are not allowed to vote or run for political office in Canada.
Victoria Coun. Shamarke Dubow has been calling for the change. Dubow came to Canada after fleeing Somalia when he was eight-years-old. He spent around 20 years being stateless but eventually came to Canada in 2012 and called Victoria home.
In 2017, he became a citizen and for the first time ever, he was able to vote in the municipality. He says the change would go far in making new Canadians feel involved and heard.
In 2015, Victoria has just over 2,100 permanent residents, about three per cent of the voting population.
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