Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Dear Mr Harper

Dear Mr Harper,

I received your letter today. It informed me that I am no longer allowed to vote in Canadian elections--unless, of course, I meet a list of very specific criteria and have the official, letter-headed, documentation to prove it.

I left Canada almost five years ago because I was unable to find a full-time job in my hometown--or even my home province. Any chance of finding a job meant moving thousands of kilometers away, to northern or western Canada; separating myself from my family, friends and everything familiar. Instead, I moved to England. I was given a full-time job, straight out of university, which is almost unheard of as a new teacher. I could live in a new country, travel Europe, experience new adventures and see if it really did rain all the time in England.

Why would I come home? Why would I give up a full-time, guaranteed, job for putting my name on a supply list where I could, maybe, possibly, if the wind blows in the right direction, get an odd day of work, here and there, all the while working in a field that has nothing to do with my degree? I've made friends here, I've adopted a pet, bought a car, traveled, met a loving boyfriend and find myself actually being recruited for work in my specialized field--even though I'm already employed, full-time.

For 23 years, I lived in Canada. When I began work I dutifully paid taxes. I didn't quite understand how it worked, where my money went or how it was completely calculated, but I did so. Moreover, I did so happily and, in return, was given free health care, democracy and citizenship to what, I considered, the greatest nation in the world. When I turned 18, I registered to vote and participated, with millions of others, in provincial and federal elections. Sadly, all our efforts weren't enough to keep you out of Parliament, Mr Harper

Every time an election was called, I voted. I knew my vote would never be make-or-break for the next Premier or Prime Minister; it was the action, the participating and exercising my democratic right, that I felt most important. When I moved to England, I made sure to register as an international voter. I may no longer be in Canada, but it is still the country I plan to return to; I still call Canada my home. Surely, if I still hold my Canadian citizenship, I should still have a say in who runs the country?

No.

That's because of your choices and your "ruling by the Ontario Court of Appeal, which took immediate effect", Mr Harper. Perhaps you have realized that all of us ex-pats around the world must have left Canada for a reason? For myself: no job opportunities, a line of credit to pay off and no future if I didn't make the choice to move. Possibly, just possibly, us ex-pats might hold the government, at least partially, responsible for moving. The budget cuts. The actions taken that limit the protection of our wilderness. The rising cost of buying a house--something a student with thousands of dollars to pay off could only ever dream of, especially if they cannot get a job in the first place.

You have taken our vote, our voices away, Mr Harper. When I read the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, I see section 3: "Every citizen of Canada has the right to vote in an election of the members of the House of Commons or of a legislative assembly and to be qualified for membership therein."

Now, there are apparently exceptions to this. Stipulations introduced. You can vote abroad, but only if...I have exceeded my time limit for being away from home and, therefore, can no longer vote. There will be thousands who agree with this--I don't live in the country day to day, I don't have apersonal connection with my local MP and, fair point. My question though is why, when thousands choose not to vote while they live in Canada, should I have someone decide that I don't wish to either? Why do I lose a constitutional right because I chose to move away and secure a future for myself?

The government voted in will change the economy, policies on foreign relations, the national budget and the list goes on and on. These bills, policies and laws introduced will change the country that I left five short years ago--and want to return to--into something a little bit different with every election. Who is to say whether it will be for the better or worse? I suppose that could have been the voters. All of them. Citizens and 'ex-pats' alike.

Mr Harper, I do have a voice. I had a vote. Thanks to you, I only have one of those now. I only hope that those who still have their votes choose to send you a message as well: your time is over. 

10 comments:

  1. Really well written article and very interesting. I commend you; however, I'm married to an ex-pat of another country who is allowed to vote but does not for the following reasons: He doesn't live there; doesn't pay taxes there; doesn't buy groceries there; doesn't own a home there; isn't affected by the decisions they make; doesn't get health care there, etc. etc. He lives in Canada and has dual citizenship. This is where he votes. I don't get to make decisions on past companies I've worked for, even though they might recruit me back. What's the difference? Why should someone living in England get a say in what happens to me in Canada? You could've moved to Nunvaut, NWT, Yukon, Alberta - there are plenty of teaching jobs there. That was your choice, not Harper's. Focus on England. You are no longer here and should not be able to decide my future as a tax-paying, mortgage owning, healthcare supporting Canadian.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for reading my post and taking the time to respond. I appreciate your comments and the questions you posed. You are correct--I no longer live in Canada and should focus on my life in England. Yes, I could have taken a job in Northern or Western Canada as well. But I didn't. I chose not to. The travel cost within Canada is extortionate thanks to the monopoly of Air Canada and a very few number of other air travel providers. Also, I had more opportunities to create a better life (financially, socially) for myself in England than in Alberta or NWT--where I did apply for jobs as well. I chose to leave instead of living in a fly-in, fly-out community. The teaching jobs available at the time were all in remote, isolated communities, some with hazard pay or isolation wages due to the extreme remoteness of the schools. I could either move thousands of kilometres away from home in New Brunswick, restrict my travel options to the mercy of West Jet or Air Canada prices to a location just as far away as England, where I have more opportunities to travel, and at a much cheaper cost. Further to that, the cost of living and wages earned were much more reasonable in England than in northern or western Canada. It may have strengthened my point further if I had, in fact, stayed in Canada after graduating, but it was not possible for me to earn the money I am now so I could pay off my student line of credit.
      My desire to vote is a personal choice--the same way your husband chooses not to vote in the country to which he holds dual citizenship. That is his decision, his right and his privilege not to do so. I wish to exercise the same right that was guaranteed to me under the Charter--the right to vote, or to abstain if I so choose. I do not think I should be punished or have that right taken away because I chose to leave--as is, again, my right to do so.
      I am still affected by Canadian laws implemented--hence the whole reason for my post. There has also been discussion of Canadians losing their citizenship if they take another. This is a Canadian law, introduced by Mr Harper, that has a direct impact on me if I ever chose to take British citizenship.
      I plan on coming back to Canada. I plan to get a job (if there are any available to me), pay taxes, buy groceries, pay a mortgage (granting Mr Harper does not drive the economy even further downward) and exercise all freedoms of being a Canadian. If I choose to spend part of my life in another country, I should not have some of those rights limited, altered or taken away, in my opinion.
      Your example of leaving a job and you not having the right to make decisions about that company was interesting. I would like to point out that, following your example, once you leave that company, they should not have the right to restrict you in any way or deny you something you are entitled to. I hope this point makes sense.

      Delete
    2. Excellent article but an even more excellent rebuttal. I agree with Jessica completely. She was forced to make a choice, stay and work at a fly-in-fly -out remote location, on a year to year contract, hoping she loves the area ( not everyone loves remote life) OR , take a well paying job outside the country that would guarantee her #1 above average wages #2 a chance to pay down her student loan debt ( which by the way, she is in essence paying back to Canada ) #3 further her education by having the opportunity to travel to places some of us only dream of and last but not least #4, if she chooses to return to Canada to work, bring with her an education on different teaching methods one doesn't find in a book. Should she have a say in Canada ? By all means. She was born here, raised here, educated here and if she didn't give a hoot, she'd not be concerned about her vote , proving that she still does in fact, love her native land. Bravo Jessica !!!!!

      Delete
    3. Thank you! Your comments and support are very appreciated. You make great points as well :)

      Delete
  2. England gets your taxes, your business, your shopping, your work, the benefit of your significantly less expensive Canadian education (than had you gone to school in the UK), your time, your rent/mortgage, your utility support, your money towards healthcare, roads, government, etc. Sorry but I agree with the above comment and Harper. Why should you get a say in what happens to all of us by being able to vote when you aren't invested in anything here or living here and ditched the country? If you really love Canada that much and are so concerned about its future - I'm sure there's still plenty of jobs in several provinces you can apply for. Airplane tickets do go on sale. Otherwise, leave the decisions to those who stay in the country they love, moving around to other provinces if need be, sacrificing and working their butts off, spending their time, taxes, money and life to be here in Canada and earn their right to vote.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. With that reasoning, I take it that you believe all the diplomats, ambassadors, government workers that are in other countries , not have the right to vote? I have a friend who worked IN PARIS , for the Canadian Federal Government, for nigh on 28 years . His two daughters were educated in France on OUR dime, his rent , lights, phone , travel were on OUR dime ( yes, he and his wife did not pay nary a penny for rent , nary a penny for phone ) his health care was paid by OUR taxes, in essence, he and his family lived abroad on our money while being under the employment of the federal government.They did not maintain a house/ apartment/ condo or any other living environment in Canada yet twice a year, on our dime remember, they ( family of 4 ) were flown to a destination of their choice ( once a year they came back to Canada, the other time they went abroad) with living arrangements compliments of the Federal Government ( you and me) , yet they still were able to vote and were encouraged to do so. With your reasoning, they should not be allowed to. Ridiculous.

      Delete
  3. Thank you for your comment--you do make a valid point. However, I will disagree with you about the secondary education. To become a teacher in the UK does not require the same amount of training or expense as it does in Canada--approximately around $40-45,000CDN compared to around £5000GBP (roughly 8000CDN). You may just have to take my word on this one as I, as you pointed out, am the one who is over here.
    As for having nothing invested in Canada, I would certainly call my parents and family an investment. When my parents are older, I will help support and take care of them. Their retirement, pensions and government support are impacted by Harper, so I would say that has an effect on me.
    My original point remains the same: I feel I should be able to vote because our Charter included that as a right for all Canadian citizens. It is your right to vote or abstain as it should be mine--since I am a Canadian citizen.
    Your choice and others to move around province to province, working, etc., is a personal choice, not up to me to decide whether it is best for anyone else. I will say the same for my decision to move to England: it was a personal choice, what I deemed best for me at the time and the best option for starting my career. If people disagreed, then they are entitled to their opinion. I would not call my personal choice a move to 'ditch' the country, and the negative connotations that go with that statement, but that is an argument over semantics, which is beside the point :).
    I appreciate your opinion and thank you for taking the time to read my post.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. " I am a Canadian citizen."--Those 5 words right there, says it all. I applaud you and yes, you should be able to vote.

      Delete
    2. Thank you! I believe so as well and appreciate your comments :)

      Delete
  4. Thanks for the article. I'm also from NB (taught at NBCC Woodstock for over a decade) but moved away - 1st to the USA and 16 years ago to the UK. "She's always been my queen" I say :-)

    My ancestors founded Lunenburg in NS and my family has been resident in NS or NB since 1751. My parents are both buried in Saint John and I have a sister still living in NB. It pains me that this government has chosen to disenfranchise those of us who have physically moved away - for whatever reason. No doubt they will find a way to allow Conrad Black - the disgraced English Lord who renounced his Canadian citizenship - to vote, though. After all, he's their type of guy.

    I suspect the basis for this change is fear and that - similar to new far-right crafted US laws on voter registration - the intent is to reduce the number of "small-L liberal" voters. It's obvious just by reading the comments here and the CBC how the right-wing thinks - I suspect not very many of them even have passports. Anyone who moves away is suspect.

    I've never voted in a Canadian election since I moved away - it's simply too difficult. Oddly, I can vote in the USA (advance and ex-pat polls make it simple) and I've been able to vote in the UK (now by post) since the day I arrived. In fact, a Canadian citizen can become a British MP (as a Commonwealth citizen) - how liberal is that? (No doubt this is reciprocal, so Brits living in Canada may also be able to vote - shock/horror :-)

    ReplyDelete