Quote:
Originally Posted by getbak
I can understand the argument for only allowing citizens to vote at the federal level because the federal government deals a lot with international issues, diplomacy, aid, and the military, so you only want citizens to be electing people who will be dealing with those issues.
At the municipal level, I don't see it being that important. At the end of the day, whether you were born in Canada, the US, the UK, Ukraine, Russia, Israel, or Palestine, if you're living in Calgary, you just want the potholes on your street fixed and the road plowed in the winter. You want the fire department to show up if you call 911 and your water to flow when you turn on a tap. You want your daughter to be able to take public transit to an 8am class at the University without needing to leave home at 5am.
I'd rather have a PR who has lived in Calgary for 20 years and plans to live here for 40 more voting in municipal elections than someone who moved here in their early 20s to make as much money as they can before moving back to wherever they grew up before they're 40. I'm not suggesting we take away the latter's right to vote, but I don't have any problem looking at granting it to the former.
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The whole idea of PR being the train of thought to vote is the same thought that went from married couples getting tax benefits to now coupled up without actually being married : common law, without the hassle of really being committed.
Society truly doesn’t benefit from it. But many argue it does, and will point to their own reasons of course. But you are still not married - meaning you refused to be fully committed, but don’t see why you can’t have the full benefits of being married at your disposal.
Same with this view point of being PR is basically being a Canadian - so don’t make me become committed to that nation whatsoever (cause it may not work and I’d end up getting divorced from this nation), but I demand full ability to dictate what happens where I live.
You want to be able to have your voice heard? Then become a citizen. If not, then beat it. Be thankful there’s a way that you can have your voice heard and be part of societal governance. Too much to ask? Then the lack of desire to do what’s required doesn’t mean society has to stoop to those lazy levels.