Dialogue NB, a non-profit organization promoting social cohesion in New Brunswick, launched a survey that seeks to understand the concerns of residents who cannot vote, including immigrants with permanent resident status.
“We understand that there are many residents in this province who do not have the right to vote and are politically voiceless and powerless in decisions that have a direct impact on their livelihood in New Brunswick,” Dialogue NB said in a release.
The Lost Votes Survey was initiated by Dialogue NB board member and entrepreneur Asif Hasan, who is himself a permanent resident. The deadline for the survey is Thursday, Sept. 10.
It’s part of Dialogue NB’s ongoing engagement process to ensure the voices of non-voting residents are heard, the organization said in a release. Dialogue NB plans to use the data to engage in upcoming public dialogues on the issue of voting rights for residents who still cannot vote.
The push to allow permanent residents who are not yet citizens to vote municipally and provincially has been going on for years in different parts of Canada, as they make up much of the immigrant community across the country.
Last year, a record of 6,000 immigrants became permanent residents in New Brunswick, up from nearly 4,200 in 2018.
In New Brunswick, the issue has been on the table for many years, too. One of the organizations that championed it is the New Brunswick Multicultural Council and its current president, Moncef Lakouas. The move was supported by various municipalities, including Saint John, Moncton, Fredericton, Edmundston and others.
Permanent residents live, work and pay taxes in the province. They also receive most health care coverage and most social benefits that citizens get. There was once a time that they were allowed to vote in municipal elections, but that right was removed when changes were made to the Municipal Elections Act in 1998.
Given the importance of population growth and retention through immigration, in 2017, an electoral reform commission under Premier Brian Gallant’s government made 23 recommendations that included allowing permanent residents to vote in municipal and provincial elections, as well as seek public office. However, those recommendations have not been adopted.
This story was originally published by Huddle, an Acadia Broadcasting content partner.
