Squamish councillors have thrown their support behind lowering the voting age to 16 years old.
While the legal voting age for any government election in Canada is 18 years old, two brothers behind Vote16 BC hope the muni’s support can help change that.
At the July 16 regular council meeting, Jason and Jerry Song gained unanimous support from the councillors to endorse the Vote16 BC campaign and request Mayor Armand Hurford write a letter of support to the Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs, Ravi Kahlon.
“In 2017, two young boys trailed behind their immigrant mother as she stepped into a polling station. Her first time voting as a Canadian citizen. That day, they witnessed something sacred. Democracy in motion,” Jason said.
“Hundreds of constituents lined up shoulder to shoulder, bound by nothing but a single belief that their voice mattered. And so the boys stood there, eyes wide, hearts full, believing that one day they too would step behind the booth and help shape the future.
“One year passed, and then another and another, then six more. No vote, no voice.”
Jason said that as co-directors of Vote16 BC, the duo are “very passionate” about extending the voting age to allow for the eager population of youth voters to take part in democracy.
“I want to note that this movement far extends beyond the two of us. From Vernon to Vancouver to Victoria, 13 municipalities and school boards across B.C. have already passed motions supporting the right of 16 and 17-year-olds to vote,” Jason said.
“Seventeen different countries already trust 16-year-olds with a vote, so why not Canada and why not Squamish?
Why should the voting age be lowered to 16?
According to Elections Canada, some of the arguments behind lowering the voting age to 16 are that at that age, youth are considered responsible enough to drive a vehicle, work and pay taxes.
“Sixteen year olds are equal to adults in terms of mental maturity. If you can drive, marry, pay taxes, be tried as an adult and even vote in party leadership races … you can vote,” Jerry said.
On an intuitive level, it also just makes sense, according to Jason.
“Wouldn’t we all agree that people should have a say in things that affect them? Well, issues like student loans will impact us the most. Climate change will impact us the most. The housing epidemic and the evolving job market aren't just some distant issues for youth; they’re our daily lived realities,” he said.
“I think it’s only fair that those most affected, at the very least, have a voice in the decisions that disproportionately affect their lives.”
The brothers ended their delegation presentation by urging councillors to support their request and endorse lowering the voting age.
“Although youth may only be 30 % of our current demographic, they are 100 % of our future,” Jerry said.
Councillor support
Councillors were all in favour of lowering the voting age, with a few noting their children would have taken part in casting their ballot at 16 years old.
“I’m happy to support this. Reducing the voting age to 16 was something that I advocated for in the last federal election,” Coun. Lauren Greenlaw said.
“It is critical for us to engage more of the youth because, as you say, there is a lot of apathy out there right now because they’re disaffected. They feel like nobody is listening, because frankly, nobody is.”
Coun. John French sympathized with the Song brothers and the story of tagging along to polling booths with their mother.
“As the parent of two 20-somethings who would absolutely have voted at the age of 16 if they had had the opportunity, I fully support this,” French said.
“Much like your mother, this father dragged those two children to every polling booth, municipal, provincial, federal. They watched the process from the age of being old enough to understand what was going on in those polling stations, right up to the point where they moved out of my house and are now independent … voters who passionately engage in the process.”
Coun. Andrew Hamilton said lowering the voting age could help capture voters while they are still in school.
“As much as 18 is an arbitrary line, 16 is too, but it’s a better arbitrary line. My primary motivation for believing it’s a better line is that we’re able to capture voters while they’re still in high school,” he said.
“So that component of actually engaging in the political process within a supported educational environment can take place at least for half of the students, because we’ll only catch half of them.”
Hurford noted that he works with the local youth council as part of his role as mayor and believes they would all be ready and capable of voting at 16 years old.
“When I think about how engaged, articulate and thoughtful those folks are, it makes me have faith in the future,” he said.
“We’re going to be OK—there are some bright minds coming. But also they’re here now and I think it's important that we find ways to listen, to give them a voice.”
Councillors voted unanimously to endorse the Vote16 BC campaign and for Hurford to write a letter of support to the Minister of Municipal Affairs.
For more information on the Vote16 BC campaign, visit the website.
