Every Canadian citizen has the right to run for office. This is due to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms of 1982. However, there are some restrictions and procedures one must follow:
To become a candidate, a person must:
- Appoint an official agent (who acts as a treasurer for the campaign) and an auditor
- Obtain nomination papers from the Chief Returning Officer in the riding in which they intend to run
- Be nominated by at least 100 electors who reside in the constituency
- Submit a nomination paper to the returning officer including a $1000 deposit.
The right to run also enforces those in power to keep some
focus at the local level. Harper could not be Prime Minister if he does not win
his Calgary Southwest riding.
The right to run also has its drawbacks. Anyone know who Jim
Pankiw is? This is a quote by the controversial man using his right to
free speech:
“And what really pisses me off is that I pay taxes and the
government takes my money and gives it to people, other people, who don’t have
that kind of a work ethic,” he said. “They get free housing, free education,
free health care — holy [expletive], hunting and fishing privileges, going to
university for free, while I was sleeping on a concrete floor. This has to
stop. This is ridiculous.”
(prairie dog magazine, 2010)
If you want to find a downfall or negative impact regarding
the right to be a candidate, well, I guess you could say this is one. The following is a clip of of Pankiw announcing his comeback to politics.
Pankiw Comeback (2:37)
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