Bill
C-279
If you have any questions or comments regarding the accessibility of this publication, please contact us at accessible@parl.gc.ca.
First Reading
LEGISinfo
Bilingual view
XML
PDF
Skip to Document Navigation
Skip to Document Content
ENGLISHSUMMARYSUMMARY1 Canada Elections Act1 Canada Elections Act6 Coming into Force6 Coming into Force
Second Session, Forty-third Parliament,
69-70 Elizabeth II, 2020-2021
HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA
BILL C-279
An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (voting age)
FIRST READING, March 24, 2021
Ms. May
432088
SUMMARY
This enactment amends the Canada Elections Act to lower the federal voting age in Canada from 18 to 16 years of age.
Available on the House of Commons website at the following address:
www.ourcommons.ca
2nd Session, 43rd Parliament, 
69-70 Elizabeth II, 2020-2021
HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA
BILL C-279
An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act (voting age)
Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:
2000, c. 9
Canada Elections Act
1 The definition future elector in subsection 2(1) of the Canada Elections Act is replaced by the following:
future elector means a Canadian citizen who is 14 years of age or older but under 16 years of age. (futur électeur)
2 Section 3 of the Act is replaced by the following:
Persons qualified as electors
3 Every person who is a Canadian citizen and is 16 years of age or older on polling day is qualified as an elector.
3 Subsection 22(5) of the Act is repealed.
4 (1) Subparagraph 281.‍3(a)‍(ii) of the Act is replaced by the following:
(ii) is not 16 years of age or older — or will not be 16 years of age or older — on polling day; or
(2) Subparagraph 281.‍3(b)‍(ii) of the Act is replaced by the following:
(ii) is not 16 years of age or older — or will not be 16 years of age or older — on polling day.
5 Paragraph 549.‍1(1)‍(b) of the Act is replaced by the following:
(b) the elector is 16 years of age or older or will be 16 years of age or older on polling day;
Coming into Force
Six months
6 This Act comes into force six months after the day on which it receives royal assent.
Published under authority of the Speaker of the House of Commons
Publication Explorer 
Publication Explorer 
ParlVU