A notice of motion that would open the door for a conversation on extending municipal voting rights to permanent residents was passed by Calgary city council on Tuesday.
The motion was put forward by Ward 8 Coun. Courtney Walcott and initially supported by four other members of council.
The councillors argue that many Calgary residents have lived in the city for years, but still can’t have their voices heard come election time, due to not being Canadian citizens.
“For a long time people have always said the ability to vote is the incentive for citizenship. I would make the argument the ability to be engaged in community is the incentive for citizenship,” says Walcott.
The motion was carried 9-6 by city council on Tuesday, and the meeting included plenty of debate.
“My mom was a permanent resident for 30 years, and she was very proud when she became a Canadian citizen,” says Coun. Sonya Sharp. “Immigrants to this country, who chose to come to this country for a reason, it’s likely those immigrants actually have a better understanding of what it means to be a Canadian citizen than all of us.”
Sharp was one of the councillors who voted against the idea, along with Coun. McLean, Coun. Chu, Coun. Demong, Coun. Wyness, and Coun. Chabot.
The motion will now go to the Municipality of Penhold before it goes to Alberta Municipalities.