Alberta Shoots Down Calgary Council’s Plan to Let Non-Citizens Vote in Municipal Elections

Alberta Minister of Municipal Affairs Ric McIver and Premier Danielle Smith introduce legislation addressing agreements between the federal government and provincial entities in Edmonton on April 10, 2024. The Canadian Press/Jason Franson

A Calgary city council motion to pursue voting rights for Canadian permanent residents ran into a roadblock as the Alberta government quickly made clear that only Canadian citizens can vote in municipal elections.

Council voted on April 30 to present the issue to the annual Alberta Municipalities conference scheduled for September. But in a May 1 statement, Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver said: “Alberta’s government has been clear since the beginning: only Canadian citizens are able to vote in civic elections. That will not be changing.”