Wednesday 17 January 2018

Politricks of becoming Politicians in Canada

Dr Gautam Ghosh

In Canada , although the Constitution Act, 1867 did stipulate (as did the provincial laws) that candidates had to be male, British subjects, 21 years of age and property owners the qualification provisions in each province were not necessarily the same and there was no uniformity of qualifications for the first Members returned to the House. Indeed, candidates did not have to reside in the country. For more than one session in the First Parliament, some Members sat not only in the House of Commons, but also in the legislative assemblies of Ontario and Quebec In 1873, a private Member successfully sponsored a bill to make the practice of dual representation illegal. 

In 1874, Parliament passed its own legislation providing for the election of Members. The Dominion Election Act abolished the property qualification for candidates and declared that any British-born or naturalized male subject of Great Britain, Ireland, or Canada or one of its provinces was eligible for candidacy in an election. [82]  In 1919, women received the franchise and the right to be candidates in an election

 In 1948, the election laws were amended to ensure that candidates were Canadian residents and qualified electors; amendments also eliminated disqualification from voting on the basis of race (status Indians excepted), which in turn opened up candidacy to people of Oriental origin, in particular to Japanese-CanadiansIn 1955, revisions to the Act gave the franchise to various religious groups, in particular to Doukobours, who had previously been disenfranchised 

Aboriginal persons received the right to vote and seek election in 1960 In 1970, the voting age was lowered to 18 and, as an extension, so was the age requirement for candidacy. 

As of now , the right to run in a federal election is protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The relevant procedures and responsibilities of candidates are set out in Part 6 of the Act.

Unless specifically declared to be ineligible under section 65 of the Act, any person qualified as an elector may run for election. To stand for office, you must be a Canadian citizen aged 18 or older on election day. You may seek election in only one electoral district at a time; however, you do not need to reside in the district

A prospective candidate must first choose whether they will run as either an independent or as a representative of a political party. If you want to be an official representative of a political party, you must be officially endorsed by that party. For more information on this procedure, which varies from party to party, contact the party that you hope will endorse you.

In either case, you must file a nomination paper and other necessary documents with the returning officer for the electoral district where you intend to run.


So an immigrant coming at age of 13 from any Nation after 5 years , at age of 18  can contest in a MP Election of Canada , and he may get elected too on sympathy VOTE !!!


Further to note that ,a candidate must have established residency somewhere in Canada but not necessarily in the constituency where he or she is seeking election , which inter alia means that one not from a RIDING can be paratrooped or can simply start residing in a riding for say 5 or 6 months , with a pre-determined  idea -of contesting an election .


Now, it is also seen that   people , who are also jobless , or who have  not  yet contributed anything significant in a riding   or those who are even on Social Canada for their living   with , cheap  stunts are getting associated with Canadian Politics ~ but why ?

(..to be continued )