voting eligibility

The Canada Elections Act Does Not Regulate Who Can Vote in a Party’s Nomination Contest. Each Party Sets Its Own Rule.

Candidate nomination contests are how Canada’s federal political parties select who will appear on the ballot as their candidate in each riding. The Canada Elections Act does not regulate who can vote in those contests; it leaves the rules entirely to each party. The Foreign Interference Commission’s overview report on political parties’ rules and processes summarized the position of each major federal party. As of 2026, the Liberal Party extends membership and nomination-voting rights to anyone who “ordinarily lives in Canada” — a category that includes individuals on work visas or study permits. The Conservative, NDP, and Green parties require members to be Canadian citizens or permanent residents. The Bloc Québécois has no citizenship or residency requirement at all. Elections Canada has confirmed it has no role in setting these rules.