A Freedom in Canada not ingrained in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms

Rahman Mohamed

It’s common knowledge among Canadians that the Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees the right to vote to Canadians 18+.  Since the ‘Persons Case’ in 1929 when women were declared ‘persons’, they were granted the right to vote too! Few Canadians are aware that not taking advantage of the Right to Vote takes away the Freedom to Complain about the Government.

On Tuesday, April 29 Elections Canada said its preliminary estimates points to 68.65% of Canadians voting.  If that turns into 70% it points to Canadians taking advantage of the right to vote. Elections Canada also points to 30% of Canadians sacrificing their Freedom to Complain about the Government to just go to work instead.

In May 2025 the federal government returns to the House of Commons to argue, hopefully not an argument that will send Canadians to the polls soon but a grown-up style argument.  Right now Elections Canada hasn’t come out with the official numbers; no one knows the official percentage of those that sacrificed their right to complain for a cup of coffee.  But Elections Canada has said that preliminary reports do say that there was an increase in 25% Canadians that did vote in Advance Polls compared to 2021; 25% more Canadians, just under 2 million electors chose to take advantage of the Right to the Early Complain option!

Yukon is the only place in Canada with lower advance poll in 2025 than 2021; more people sacrificed their freedom to complain early here than in its neighbours or southern Canada.  Likely just the weather, too cold to complain.  Elections Canada is still talking; on May 1 it turned a seat in Québec from the Liberals to the Bloc Québecois; but the counts are still coming.  In fact, there’s a chance that it might become a majority government!  If it’s a majority government Canadians won’t have to see those ads, hear those calls, or go out to vote until 2029!  They can complain until 2029 without any danger of retaliation (unless there’s a snap election).

On May 2 Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered his first Press Conference. The Freedom to Complain can begin now, or wait until the Cabinet is sworn in on May 12, when Parliament returns on May 26, or when King Charles III delivers the speech from the throne on May 27. Either way, many will likely be taking advantage of the Freedom to Complain by June (earliest) or Canada Day, July 1 (latest).