Colby Cosh: Are 16-year-old voters in Canada's future?

Lowering the voting age is exactly the sort of thing our adventurous Supreme Court might find an excuse to do one day. It has, in the past, explicitly refused to consider it, but everyone reading these words knows exactly how much to count on precedent in Canadian law. So even though the 4-1 majority decision of the New Zealand court isn’t binding on that country’s parliament, I’m sure I’m not the only Canadian whoto see what bright ideas our appellate courts might borrow from down south.

The Make It 16 crew faced the logical problem that the voting age is pegged at 18 in the text of the Bill of Rights itself. This put the court under a heavy obligation to read the Bill of Rights as being consistent with itself if possible — but the majority of the court found a creative solution to that.

Source: Law Daily Report (lawdailyreport.net)

Heeelllllllol no

How about only tax payers vote regardless of age.

Kids start out as left leaning socialist demanding benefits from the state. As they get older, they realize who pays for it and that is when they become Conservative and demand accountability.

MEWH If they are too young to drink or be publicly named as a murder suspect, they are too young to vote

I move further to the right the higher my income gets, when I was 19 and making 15k a yr loved communism..now I am 10 years old and making much much more I don't want my tax dollars going to filthy 19yr Olds making 15l/yr and hardly paying any taxes

I'd hope not. At least at 18 I was self aware enough to know I didn't know shit about the candidates or even have a clue who'd do a better job. The next election I decided to vote, only wanted to vote based on party, but the ballots didn't state what party they were. Embarrassing

Not my democracy.

I recently heard an 8 year-old with a lot of great ideas

No. Too young. Min shoukd be drinking age.

Would 16 year olds still be subject to young offenders act? If they mature enough make decisions that effect others, surely they are mature enough to to be held accountable and criminally responsible? Drug addicts on the left - please tell me what is wrong with my reasoning.

No no and no.

Raise the age to 25!!

16 years. Historical/Political knowledge limited.

Young minds are statisticly easier to influence and manipulate. Especially to benefit adults. infiltrate educational institutions, Control media outputs, weaken or dissolve the family structure....... Lower the voting age, text book shit. Right out of the dictator handbook.

Terrible idea. 18 prob too low as it is

I f*ucking hope not. Raise to 32.

Minors should NOT BE allowed to vote!!! What’s next lower the drinking and enlistment age as well, get a grip people !!!

No because if we do, the Liberal/NDP coalition will be re-elected FOREVER.🤦‍♂️

Why would we allow that? Did any of us know shit at 16? Were any of us in a position to make informed decisions at 16? Oh but 16 year olds massively sway left so cool cool cool…

Can’t make decisions because they’re minors so can’t vote either

Sure as fuck hope not 18 year minimum citizenship to vote

They eat Tide Pods.

Sure ... why not two year olds as well. And maybe people in any other country.... just as long as no hard working adult Canadian can have an impact.....

only if they can vote on their phone

When you’ve paid taxes for 5 years, then you should be able to vote. At 16 they can’t decide if they’re a human, or if they need a litter box in the school bathroom.

No you clowns.

Hard. No.

Let's make it 25 instead

Please no !

Another emotional contribution to our Political System. As if there was an over abundance of common sense at present. This will help nice smiles & nice hair get you elected.

We should make it so only tax payers can vote.

Fuck no

Let's be honest, the very fact this question is being floated means they're preparing us for it when they eventually force it on us. And then say good bye to what's left of the productive legacy of our ancestors. All over.

When I was 16 I would have voted for the communist party in my 30s I feel very different about that. Voting should be reserved for fulltime employed people. Not for youths who are still benefiting off the social system. Smells like progressive parties are buying votes.

Don't agree with reducing the voting age limit to 16-years old, however, would this truly be a 16-year or is the Canadian and Provincial Governments going to allow, say, an 8-year who identifies as a 16-year old human or cat / dog / hamster to vote?

The left what’s to grab them straight out of indoctrination by the public school system, before they are mature enough to understand how the world really works.

Let's hope not. Ridiculous concept.

No. They are not criminally responsible for any crimes they may have (secretly) committed, until they are 18, why would society assume they are responsible enough to vote?

Umm.. no way!

Medical field does say that the human mind fully develops especially for men 23,24 women little sooner. 16! Humans that age can't make up their mind who they want to date

Sure...the brain washed kids from the sistem6!

Let’s only hope not

NO

I sincerely hope not. This generation can barely deal with school life not alone deal with the countries future.

Does that mean 16 year olds could be held criminally responsible in adult courts as well ? If so.... this should be quite the flashpoint in woke nation in the urban and suburbia chardonnay circles. Can't be a little bit pregnant here.

The pretence of elections having anything to do with democracy is becoming a joke

Why not ... even 4 years old could start voting... they don't need to be able to write.. just need to draw a cross in the spot Trudeau will show them... after giving them candies, tells them fairy tales, perform some of his shows, as usual, and they'll vote for him!

No, they are children

They better not be. 16 year olds are too immature & easily lead especially today. They have little to no critical thinking skills.

Only if we want the absolutely dumbest possible future.

Voting age should be raised to 25, once the brain is fully developed

Good gawd no, the level of both experience and responsibilities that are needed to make an educated decision is far to low at 16

'Gather all around the young ones, they will make us strong' -The Satanic Cult.

You mean after they are done deciding what to do on Friday nights and eating detergent pods. It's too young!

Hell no!

Cool. The libs are going to start bribing kids for votes now. withtheirparentsmoney

🤡🌍

I hope not

The libs want younger voters for teh progressive 'trendy' votes. It's all about the votes, people. The LPC are disgusting...they talk about the possibility of 'extremism', and yet they are pushing for this kind of manipulation and brainwashing through their leftist messaging.

Sure but lower the young offenders act to 16 if their so mature

Please no....16 year olds have 0 concept of what is going on in the world... Why not just drop it to 14 year olds?

They're already choosing our party leaders provincially and federally. The Conservatives allowed 14 year olds to vote in their recent race.

No. Too young. Not enough life experience yet.

Absolutely not.

its the only chance the NDP and Liberals have lol

Good lord

Mass formation psychosis: Trudeau's bought and paid for Legacy Media, and schools to spread false information to young people for 3 years. Trudeau just wants them to vote for him in the next election.

hopefully not

Libocrats are counting on it... 🤷🏼‍♂️

unicorns and lollipops ideology has lost its luster with the general population; hard reality of depleted finances is swaying voters

Absolutely. The left has already mined as much as they could from the adult demographic, Now they have to seek the support of children.

A 16 year old can't even boil water to make a box of KD and are now expected to make one of the biggest decision in their lives.. Ya ok!

Sure why not. We’ve already stubbed our toe, let’s just throw ourselves the rest of the way down the stairs for the lulz

Hell no

I hope not. Have you seen 16 year old lately? Christ even kids in their early 20s are still coddled children.

A 16 year old often can't get a class PM vote right. Geez Louise.

Have you met a 16-year-old? They shouldn’t be in charge of their room. This isn’t Canada’s future, but it certainly could be its end.

There is literally nothing dumber and more insidious then letting children vote. 100% to game the elections. There are literally no logical arguments whatsoever that can be made to justify it other then blatant brainwashing of students.

No they shouldn’t be

Most adults don’t even take time to make an informed vote, we don’t need real kids voting too.

God no! Try 21.

I would not want myself at 16 voting

Lol, no Colby. Only the Greens (in Canada) have raised the issue. No reasonably person here thinks this makes sense and there's very little reason to think the supreme court will look into it.

Increase the age to 25 years old as well as a minimum of one year of paying taxes. People who vote should have skin in the game.

Move it to 21

No Way ,this is Ludicrous, society has to have an established boundary that you are an Responsible ADULT,to vote ,hold public office ,own property etc ,Its The ,NDP and Greens pushing this bs ,so the wokies can influence elections through Teachers Pushing tbeir Ideals .

Ummmm no

No.

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