Letter to the Editor
St. Thomas Times Journal
January 20, 2006
Psychiatric patients have right to participate in election
Editor:
Re: Celebrating the Right to Vote
On Jan. 23 many of us will go to the polls and exercise our democratic right to vote and take it for granted. Others will choose not to participate in this political process. However, many Canadians have only been given the right to vote in the last couple of decades. In 1988 the Canadian Disability Rights Council successfully challenged a clause in the Canada Elections Act that prohibited "every person restrained of his liberty of movement or deprived of the management of his property by reason of mental disease" from voting. Prior to this, individuals with mental illness who found themselves in hospital on election day were deprived of the opportunity of participating in the electoral process and denied the right to vote.
The federal government, in keeping with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms finally took action to address this inequity. Bill C-114, which received Royal Assent in May 1993, removed the disqualification for persons limited as a result of "mental disease." On this election day, patient advocates of the Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office will support individuals who wish to exercise their right to vote and ensure that any barriers to participation are addressed. As an exercise of our social responsibility and democratic entitlement, voting is of critical importance to many of us. This is no less the case for those who have a mental illness.
As a progressive and fair society, let's celebrate when we go to the polls on Jan. 23 knowing that every Canadian is equal under the law and able to take part in the democratic process and shape the future of our nation. Those who were disenfranchised have been empowered and voting by all adult Canadians, regardless of age, race, disability, or gender will keep our democracy strong, now and in the future.
Sincerely,
David Simpson
Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office
Toronto
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