HISTORY OF THE VOTE IN CANADA

Today’s Goals  Learning Goals  Know the history of the vote in Canada  Know the exemptions from voting  Know how it changed over time to be more inclusive  Know that voting is important  Success Criteria  I can explain how voting changed over time in Canada  I can identify who was exempt from voting throughout history  I can communicate how voting changed and became more inclusive  I can explain why voting is important

British North America  Only rich white men could vote  They had to own property or assets of a specific value or pay a certain amount in taxes or rent to be eligible  Women and some ethnic/religious groups could not vote  Only a fraction of the population could vote.  Votes were cast orally  People could be easily intimidated or blackmailed as their votes were not as private

1867 to 1919  Canada became a nation with confederation in 1867, when the first 4 provinces joined: Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick.  Many Women could still not vote, but were fighting for the right to vote  The suffrage movement  1916 Manitoba was the first province to allow women to vote in provincial elections  Quebec was the last in 1940  In 1917 some nurses caring for soldiers in WWI met an exception for military personnel and were allowed to vote in the election.  In general, women could not vote in federal elections in Canada until  1919 women were given the right to hold public office at the federal level in Canada.

 Making the vote universal : The right to vote became “universal” in this time period, but discrimination was still present!  Native people could not vote.  Native people could vote since confederation BUT only if they gave up their treaty rights/status.  These limitations were lifted in  People of Japanese and Chinese descent could not vote federally until 1947/48.

 Steps were taken to make voting easier  Employers had to give employees time to vote  Voting hours were extended  Postal voting was introduced  Level access was put in place for people in wheel chairs  Mobile polls visit places to get people voting  Voting info was made available in both official languages (French and English), as well as Native languages.  Even after all this struggle to get the right to vote, over time, less and less people have gone to vote.  Voter turnout is in decline ! Why do you think this is?

Voter Turnout

In an election we choose a candidate by voting for him or her. The candidate with the most votes is elected. He or she then becomes a Member of Parliament (MP) with a seat in the House of Commons. When there is an election, I receive a voter information card, which confirms that my name is on the voters list. This card is important. It tells me when and where I go to vote. If I do not receive this card, I will contact Elections Canada to find out how to get my name on the voters list so I can vote. contact Elections Canada I can find out about the candidates by listening to the radio, watching TV, reading the newspapers and talking to friends and family members.

I can vote in person on election day. On election day, I go to my polling station to vote. The polling station address is on the Voter Information Card. At the polling station, I find the ballot box with the number that matches the number on my voter information card. Two people are at the table: the poll clerk and the deputy returning officer. I give my voter information card to the poll clerk or tell him or her my name and address. The poll clerk finds my name on the list and crosses off my name to show that I have voted. The deputy returning officer gives me back a folded ballot. That person can also help me if I have trouble voting. I can also bring along a friend or family member.

I go behind the voting screen. No one can see for whom I vote. I mark an X in the circle beside the name of the candidate I choose. I fold my ballot so my vote remains secret. I take my folded ballot back to the deputy returning officer who tears off the black tab without opening my ballot. The deputy returning officer gives me back my ballot. I put my ballot in the ballot box myself! I hope my candidate will be elected.

What About Today?  1970 – Canada Elections Act  Lowered the voting age from 21 to 18.  You can vote in a federal election if you  Are a Canadian citizen  Will be 18 or older on election day  Are registered to vote  Person’s name must appear on the Registrar of Electors list (Voters list)

Why is it Important to Vote?  It is how you get your say in the way your country is governed  If you don’t vote, then how can you complain about the state of things?  Politicians needs to know what people think – if they like or dislike the way public policy issues are being handled. This is a way of giving feedback  People don’t show that they care, by turning out to vote, we could slowly start to lose this very important right.  Voting is a right that many people fought long and hard to get

Why Do Some People Not Vote?  They do not understand politics  They do not know how to vote  They do not think it will make a difference  They are too busy  They do not like any of the choices  They do not like the first past the post voting system

Mock Vote Time!  Cast your ballot for the Canadian political party of your choice.  We will see how the class distribution looks!

Activity  In your groups you will be given a piece of Bristol board  Each Bristol board will have a different topic on it. You need to write what you think about each topic on the board while it is at your table.  What comes to mind?  What is important?  What are some problems?  The boards will rotate around the room every 3 minutes.  At the end you will have your original board back  You will pick some issues/comments/problems off each one and tell the class why you chose those out of all the comments to highlight and also how you would propose to deal with the problem on your board.  How can we make it better?

Topics:  Health  Environment/Natural Resources  National Defence/Army  Freedom/Equality/Rights  Immigration/Multiculturalism  Social Assistance/Social Safety Net  Education