We, the undersigned, are deeply concerned and engaged Canadian citizens who believe it is time to reconsider and revise the legal voting age in Canada.

As members of the younger generation, we are committed to shaping the future of our communities at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels. Contrary to the widespread misconception that youth are disengaged from politics, we are more informed, active, and vocal than ever before. The rise of social media and digital platforms has empowered us to participate in political discourse, advocate for change, and stay informed about governmental issues in real time.

This political awareness often begins in the classroom through the mandatory “Civics” course in the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). This foundational education equips students with knowledge of Canada’s political systems, election processes, political party platforms, and concepts of leadership. Upon completion of the course, students often demonstrate political literacy comparable to, or even exceeding, that of the average Canadian voter.

Despite this engagement and understanding, youth under the age of 18 are denied the most fundamental democratic right: the right to vote.

Many of these same individuals are actively contributing to society—not just through civic involvement, but through taxation. At 16, many young Canadians take on part-time jobs and begin paying taxes. If youth are expected to contribute financially to the country, they should also be granted a say in how those public funds are spent. Denying them that right is, in effect, taxation without representation.

This issue extends beyond fairness—it raises constitutional concerns under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Section 15(1) guarantees equality before and under the law without discrimination. Denying youth the right to vote solely based on age, despite their civic knowledge and economic contributions, constitutes a form of age-based discrimination.
Section 3 guarantees all Canadian citizens the right to vote in democratic elections. While current law restricts this right to those 18 and older, this limitation must be justifiable under the Charter. Given the evidence of youth engagement and capability, it is increasingly difficult to justify their exclusion from the democratic process.
Therefore, we, the undersigned, call on the Government of Canada to:

Lower the federal voting age to 16, in recognition of the political literacy, civic engagement, and economic contributions of young Canadians.
Ensure that Canada’s democracy reflects the voices of all contributing citizens, regardless of age.
Lowering the voting age will strengthen Canadian democracy, promote equality, and affirm our collective commitment to upholding the rights and freedoms guaranteed to all citizens under the Charter.