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Voting Enfranchisement in Canada
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Non-Protestants
For many years, one of the qualifications needed to vote was taking an oath. Unfortunately, this blocked many religious sects in Canada from voting for various reasons. The oath denounced papal authority, disenfranchising Catholics. The Quaker's religion prevents them from taking any oaths, so they were blocked too. Putting precise dates on any group here is difficult due to the provincial nature of enfranchisement, but by 1833 there were no religious restrictions on voting. -
Military Personnel
The Military Voters act of 1917 allowed all those serving in the Canadian army, as well as their female relatives. This enfranchised (some) women, Aboriginal soldiers, and servicemen under 21. However, it also disenfranchised people who commonly spoke an "enemy" language or objected to the war. -
Women
Before Confederation, women were not allowed the vote because one needed property to vote, and few women were landowners. After Confederation, women were not allowed the vote because they were viewed as unable to understand politics. The government only changed that policy under pressure from suffragists. They were supported by the wife of Canada's Governor General, Lady Aberdeen. WWI changed the position of women in society, and this was the final push that got them the vote, in 1921. -
Japanese-Canadians
Japanese-Canadians were not allowed the vote because they were barred from the voter's list. When Japanese-Canadian veterans of WWI, who had proved their loyalty to Canada on the battlefield, tried to get the vote, they were successful. But the fight wasn't over, for only veterans were allowed to vote. The internment of Japanese-Canadians further stalled the process of enfranchisement. Finally, they were given the vote, just a week before the restrictions on where they could live were lifted. -
Aboriginal Peoples
The Canadian government did allow Native people to vote- at a heavy price. In order to vote, they would have to give up their treaty rights and title as "Status Indians". Understandably, few were willing to do so. Another barrier was the lack of outreach to Native communities, many of which were quite rural. in 1960, John Diefenbaker and his government passed rulings that would allow Native people to vote without losing their rights.
