{"id":10214,"date":"2026-07-07T04:25:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T08:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jfcy.org\/?post_type=jfcy-in-the-courts&#038;p=10214"},"modified":"2026-09-03T15:05:31","modified_gmt":"2026-09-03T19:05:31","slug":"vac","status":"publish","type":"jfcy-in-the-courts","link":"https:\/\/jfcy.org\/en\/cases-decisions\/vac\/","title":{"rendered":"Penney-Crocker et al. v Canada [Voting Age Challenge]"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-7387b849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-7387b849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><div class=\"inner-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/VAC-Legal-Arguments.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"724\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/VAC-Legal-Arguments-724x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9600\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.7070254110612855;width:496px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/VAC-Legal-Arguments-724x1024.png 724w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/VAC-Legal-Arguments-566x800.png 566w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/VAC-Legal-Arguments-274x387.png 274w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/VAC-Legal-Arguments-183x259.png 183w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/VAC-Legal-Arguments-212x300.png 212w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/VAC-Legal-Arguments-768x1086.png 768w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/VAC-Legal-Arguments-1086x1536.png 1086w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/VAC-Legal-Arguments-141x200.png 141w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/VAC-Legal-Arguments.png 1414w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 724px) 100vw, 724px\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">JFCY and the <a href=\"https:\/\/aspercentre.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights<\/a> is representing a group of&nbsp;individual young people from across Canada in a constitutional challenge to the Federal Voting Age.&nbsp;The 13 young people range in age between 12 to 18 years old and hail from coast to coast to coast, including Nunavut, British Colombia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Section 3 of the <em>Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms<\/em> states that all Canadian citizens have a right to vote in federal and provincial\/territorial elections, and section 15 states that everyone is equal before and under the law without discrimination based on age. Additionally, the Supreme Court of Canada, in the case <em>Frank v Canada, <\/em>2019 SCC 1, made it clear that any limit on Canadians\u2019 right to vote must be clearly justified. Children represent nearly one quarter of Canada\u2019s population, yet they remain the only disenfranchised citizens in our society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Currently, the four larger political parties in Canada all allow people to be members and vote for party leadership at age 14, and there are jurisdictions around the world that have lowered the voting age to 16, including Scotland, Wales, Austria and Germany (local).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Application: Superior Court of Justice, Court File No.CV-21-00673219-0000<span style=\"color: var(--wp--custom--colors--text-500); font-family: var(--wp--preset--font-family--inter); font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--medium);\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Completed: \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Court Order dispensing with the litigation guardian requirement<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Evidence by both parties filed<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cross-examination of experts  <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Current: written submission (factum) deadlines set for Spring\/Summer 2026 \n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Applicants-Factum-Penney-Crocker-et-al-2026.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Applicants factum <\/a>filed March 2026<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Respondent factum received June 2026<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Motions for Leave to Intervene deadline is July 13, 2026<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fall 2026 (tbc): hearing dates<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><div class=\"inner-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Evolution.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Evolution-1024x512.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9583\" style=\"aspect-ratio:2.0000491231517414;width:494px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Evolution-1024x512.png 1024w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Evolution-1600x800.png 1600w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Evolution-518x259.png 518w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Evolution-259x130.png 259w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Evolution-420x210.png 420w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Evolution-300x150.png 300w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Evolution-768x384.png 768w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Evolution-1536x768.png 1536w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Evolution-2048x1024.png 2048w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Evolution-200x100.png 200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><div class=\"inner-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-2-EN.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-2-EN-1024x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9691\" style=\"width:222px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-2-EN-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-2-EN-800x800.png 800w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-2-EN-387x387.png 387w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-2-EN-259x259.png 259w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-2-EN-160x160.png 160w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-2-EN-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-2-EN-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-2-EN-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-2-EN-250x250.png 250w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-2-EN-200x200.png 200w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-2-EN.png 1501w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Original Media Release: Young Canadians File Court Challenge to Lower Federal Voting Age \u2013 Calling it Unconstitutional<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8211; TORONTO, Dec. 1, 2021 \u2013 A group of Canadian children and youth are set to make history, opening the possibility that they and their peers may be able to cast a ballot in the next federal election. The 13 young people range in age between 12 to 18 years old and hail from coast to coast to coast, including Nunavut, British Colombia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Section 3 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms states that all Canadian citizens have a right to vote in federal and provincial\/territorial elections, and section 15 states that everyone is equal before and under the law without discrimination based on age. Additionally, the Supreme Court of Canada, in the case Frank v Canada, made it clear that any limit on Canadians\u2019 right to vote must be clearly justified. Children represent nearly one quarter of Canada\u2019s population, yet they remain the only disenfranchised citizens in our society. <a href=\"https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/VAC-Media-Release-FINAL.pdf\">Read full Media Release<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The children and youth at the centre of this case are represented by JFCY and the David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The infographic below provides some historical and current context to the case &#8211; materials will be updated as the case proceeds.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><div class=\"inner-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/VAC-infographic-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"120\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/VAC-infographic-1-120x300.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9607\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.3996101364522417;width:205px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/VAC-infographic-1-120x300.png 120w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/VAC-infographic-1-320x800.png 320w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/VAC-infographic-1-155x387.png 155w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/VAC-infographic-1-104x259.png 104w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/VAC-infographic-1-768x1920.png 768w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/VAC-infographic-1-410x1024.png 410w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/VAC-infographic-1-614x1536.png 614w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/VAC-infographic-1-80x200.png 80w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/VAC-infographic-1.png 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 120px) 100vw, 120px\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Icons for social media:<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><div class=\"inner-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-2-EN.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-2-EN-300x300.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9691\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1;width:75px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-2-EN-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-2-EN-800x800.png 800w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-2-EN-387x387.png 387w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-2-EN-259x259.png 259w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-2-EN-160x160.png 160w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-2-EN-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-2-EN-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-2-EN-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-2-EN-250x250.png 250w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-2-EN-200x200.png 200w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-2-EN.png 1501w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><div class=\"inner-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-2-FR.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-2-FR-300x300.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9718\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1;width:75px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-2-FR-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-2-FR-800x800.png 800w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-2-FR-387x387.png 387w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-2-FR-259x259.png 259w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-2-FR-160x160.png 160w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-2-FR-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-2-FR-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-2-FR-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-2-FR-250x250.png 250w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-2-FR-200x200.png 200w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-2-FR.png 1501w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><div class=\"inner-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-1-EN.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-1-EN-300x300.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9715\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1;width:75px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-1-EN-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-1-EN-800x800.png 800w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-1-EN-387x387.png 387w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-1-EN-259x259.png 259w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-1-EN-160x160.png 160w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-1-EN-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-1-EN-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-1-EN-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-1-EN-250x250.png 250w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-1-EN-200x200.png 200w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-1-EN.png 1501w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><div class=\"inner-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-1-FR.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-1-FR-300x300.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9716\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1;width:75px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-1-FR-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-1-FR-800x800.png 800w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-1-FR-387x387.png 387w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-1-FR-259x259.png 259w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-1-FR-160x160.png 160w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-1-FR-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-1-FR-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-1-FR-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-1-FR-250x250.png 250w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-1-FR-200x200.png 200w, https:\/\/jfcy.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/VAC-1-FR.png 1501w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>JFCY and the David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights is representing a group of&nbsp;individual young people from across Canada in&mldr;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-10214","jfcy-in-the-courts","type-jfcy-in-the-courts","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jfcy.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/jfcy-in-the-courts\/10214","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jfcy.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/jfcy-in-the-courts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jfcy.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/jfcy-in-the-courts"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/jfcy.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/jfcy-in-the-courts\/10214\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15743,"href":"https:\/\/jfcy.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/jfcy-in-the-courts\/10214\/revisions\/15743"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jfcy.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10214"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}