With provincial and municipal election campaigns underway, Canadians are being encouraged to vote.

Anas Saba can’t vote.

Saba is a permanent resident of Canada who is currently working as a production planner in Moose Jaw. He was previously a civil engineer in Oman. He and his family moved from Oman in August 2019.

“Voting is a part of life,” said Saba. “Everything going on in the government affects our life, our decisions, our everything.”

“A permanent resident,” by the definition given on the Government of Canada’s website, “is someone who has been given permanent resident status by immigrating to Canada but is not a Canadian citizen. Permanent residents are citizens of other countries.”

Permanent residents can’t vote in Canadian elections.

A number of permanent residents to have expressed their opinions on wanting to vote. However, many citizens aren’t aware about the restrictions on permanent residents.

Permanent residents, like Saba, have many of the same rights and responsibilities as Canadian citizens.

“We are living here as Canadians now,” said Saba. “We are working full time, own [a] home, and paying taxes.”

The Government of Canada’s website states that permanent residents have the right to “get most social benefits that Canadian citizens receive; live, work or study in Canada; protection under Canadian law; and apply for Canadian Citizenship.”

“Vote or run for political office; and hold some jobs that need a high-level security clearance” are rights that permanent residents don’t have according to the Government of Canada’s website.

“Without having the right to vote…I’m not enthusiastic” said Saba about his interest regarding Canadian politics.

Not all permanent residents share Saba’s perspective. Some are interested and want to stay informed and educated on Canadian politics as they see the importance and value in the right to vote.

“[Living] in Canada makes it my business,” said Bupe Leona Musonda, “to know about policies that are being put in place that might affect me or my friends and family.”

Musonda is a second-year arts and science student at the University of Saskatchewan. She and her family moved from Zambia around six years ago.

“This is my new home,” said Kyle Nortjé, “the decisions about how it is run and what gets done for the country feel important to me.”

Nortjé is a second-year animal biology student at the University of Guelph. He and his family moved from South Africa around three and a half years ago.

The younger demographic seems to want to be more informed as the decisions made now may affect their future in this country.

There is a way for permanent residents to be able to vote, they need to become citizens.

The citizenship process is very long, it takes years. There are also certain requirements that applicants must meet in order to become eligible to apply.

“To be eligible to become a Canadian citizen,” states the Government of Canada’s website, “you must be a permanent resident; have lived in Canada for 3 out of the last 5 years; have filed your taxes, if you need to; pass a citizenship text; and prove your language skills.”

Saba is not eligible to apply as he and his family don’t yet meet the time requirement.

“I want to be a citizen,” said Saba, “I want to be fully Canadian. I love this country. I love [living] in this country. I am aiming to build my future and my children’s future here.”

Musonda and her family have applied and are waiting for their application to go through the system.

Nortjé and his family are planning to apply soon.

“I would want to become a citizen here,” said Nortjé, “this country is beautiful and diverse and so multicultural.”

“Their vote could make the difference,” said Nortjé referring to Canadian citizens, “[it] gives them a chance to shape the country in a way that they believe is going to benefit it.”

“If you have the ability to vote,” said Musonda, “you should participate.”

According to Statistics Canada and the Government of Canada’s websites, there were over 286,000 permanent residents living in Canada in 2017 alone.

For perspective Canada’s population was estimated at over 37,000,000 in the 2017-2018 year, according to Statistics Canada.