WINNIPEG — The Manitoba government's plan to revamp the electoral system could lead to a younger voting age.
Premier Greg Selinger says he is keeping an open mind and awaiting consultations, but believes there are upsides to letting people under 18 cast ballots.
"I think there's even an argument to look at a lower voting age, or participation earlier. A lot of students I meet — young people — are very interested in the political process and bring a lot of good ideas," Selinger said in a year-end interview with The Canadian Press.
Selinger recently announced that an all-party task force is to examine possible electoral changes, including whether the current first-past-the-post approach should be replaced. That system can allow a party to win a majority of seats with less than 40 per cent of the popular vote.
Selinger would not express a preference for alternatives such as proportional representation or a preferential ballot. Each has its pros and cons, he said.
"What I want is for people to be able to vote without fear or favour. What I want is that no big money controls things, and I want accessibility to the system."
The province recently adopted plans for a permanent voting list, which is supposed to make it easier for people to cast a ballot even if they don't have multiple pieces of identification.
The NDP government, more than a decade ago, banned corporate and union donations and imposed limits on personal ones.
The provincial task force is not likely to be up and running before the Manitoba election slated for April 19. Selinger has said his planned electoral review will only start once a federal one promised by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau completes its work.
