New citizens cherish voting, study finds
61 per cent of respondents say they have already cast ballots in a Canadian election
After living on temporary work permits in the U.S. for a decade, becoming a Canadian citizen helped Siddharth Seth set down roots and boost his sense of belonging.
And the right to vote in Canada is pivotal for newcomers to become full participants in their adopted homeland, says the Toronto software product manager, who came from India in 2009 under Ottawa’s skilled worker immigration program.
“When I got my Canadian citizenship on Dec. 16, 2013, it was a very special and exciting day. In Arizona, I never felt I belonged because I was on a work permit,” said the 35-yearold, who voted in both the Ontario provincial and municipal elections in 2014 and will be voting in his first federal election in October.
“Being able to vote is an opportunity to express your opinions and steer the political direction of the country.”
According to a national survey, the right to vote is definitely something new citizens cherish as a milestone in their immigration journey. About 61 per cent of respondents said they had already voted in a Canadian election, either provincial or municipal. (In the 2014 Ontario election, total turnout was about 52 per cent, while in GTA municipal votes, turnout is typically below 40 per cent. In the 2011 federal election, turnout was about 61 per cent.)
The study released this month by the Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC) examined political participation of new citizens who received their citizenship between May 2012 and November 2014.
Through focus groups across Canada, it also explored this increasingly important block of voters’ reasons for voting and not voting, as well as their civic engagement beyond the ballot box.
“In 2014, Canada swore in more than 260,000 new citizens. As these people enter the body politic, by definition, they are also changing it. The ICC felt an election year was the perfect moment to examine the ongoing evolution of the Canadian voter,” said Charles Foran, the institute’s CEO.
“We learned that new citizens believe in political participation, and are finding plenty of ways to become involved. We also learned that they definitely value the vote and want to overcome any practical barriers that might keep them from casting their ballot.”
Here are the key findings of the report, titled “Ballots & Belonging”:
48 per cent of new citizens felt permanent residents should be allowed to vote in municipal elections.
23 per cent reported having emailed or called an elected official about an issue.
26 per cent had personally spoken with a candidate during their first election.
10 per cent had put a candidate sign on the front lawn.
5 per cent had donated money to a political party or candidate.
12 per cent had attended an allcandidates debate/meeting.
7 per cent had volunteered on a political campaign.
6 per cent had become a member of a political party.
46 per cent cited lack of knowledge of the issues and the process as reasons not to vote.
6 per cent said they didn’t vote because of the lack of interest and dissatisfaction with the government or political system.
“‘Ballots & Belonging’ speaks to how new citizens feel about the most fundamental marker of democracy — the vote,” said Foran.
Currently, permanent residents must have been physically present in Canada for four out of six years to be eligible for Canadian citizenship. To become citizens, they must also pass a language test and citizenship exam to prove their knowledge of Canadian history and culture.