An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (voting age)
Bill C-227 was the first parliamentary attempt to lower Canada's federal voting age from 18 to 16. Sponsored by NDP MP Taylor Bachrach (Skeena-Bulkley Valley), it died on the Order Paper at second reading after the Liberal-NDP confidence-and-supply agreement broke down. Resubmitted in 45-1 as Bill C-210. Canada's voting-age threshold has been 18 since 1970 (Bill C-79, S.C. 1970, c. 5). Scotland and Wales already let 16-year-olds vote in devolved elections; Austria, Brazil, and Argentina allow it nationally.
Status
Quick learn
Earlier Private Member's Bill version of the proposal to lower the federal voting age from 18 to 16. Died on the Order Paper in 44-1 at second reading. Resubmitted in 45-1 as C-210.
Issues this bill touches
- Democratic Renewal & Electoral Reform
Lower voting age to 16 (PMB precursor to C-210).
Legislative history
- First reading
First reading in the House of Commons.
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Official source
Read full text on Parliament of Canada