Calgary Council’s Proposal to Allow Non-Citizens to Vote in Municipal Elections Rejected by Alberta
A Calgary city council motion to pursue voting rights for Canadian permanent residents faced opposition from the Alberta government, which clarified that only Canadian citizens can vote in municipal elections.
The motion passed 9-6, with Mayor Jyoti Gondek and several councillors in favor, while others opposed it.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith emphasized that voting should be reserved for Canadian citizens and commended Minister McIver for upholding the integrity of democratic institutions.
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Minister McIver emphasized the importance of protecting democracy, stating that voting rights are reserved for Canadian citizens as outlined in provincial election legislation like the Local Authorities Elections Act.
The government is committed to ensuring voting accessibility for all Canadian citizens and will safeguard the integrity of elections.
The council initially raised the voting rights issue in April, with a spokesperson for Alberta Municipalities welcoming resolutions for consideration at the annual meeting.
Resolutions meeting submission criteria will be presented and voted on at the annual Convention in September.
Calgary’s council has faced previous controversies, including the recent repeal of a single-use bylaw and other contentious decisions.
The mayor faced criticism over various decisions, but a petition to recall her fell short of required signatures.
Jennifer Cowan and Matthew Horwood contributed to this report.
