Section 3 of the Charter of Rights declares that “every citizen of Canada” has the right to vote in provincial and federal elections. Section 3 of the Canada Elections Act, on the other hand, restricts the right to vote to “every person who is a Canadian citizen and is 18 years of age or older on polling day.” [Emphasis added.]
If that strikes you as a contradiction then you will be in sympathy with a lawsuit launched in Ontario Superior Court by 13 children aged 12 and up arguing that the voting age requirement should be removed from the law.
Well, the children aren’t actually the ones behind it: The suit is backed by Children First Canada, a charity whose directors give every appearance of being over 18, and will be argued by lawyers for Justice for Children and Youth and the David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights, adults all. But still: It’s all about #Votes4Kids!
