Policy Area
Priority Level
Last Updated
Justice
Long-Term
August 16, 2024
The Policy
The RPC will legislate that the new national age of majority will be 19, overriding all provincial laws; this new standard will apply to voting, military service, the ability to enter into contracts, purchasing restricted substances and objects, child protection purposes, and justice.
The Research
Research on human brain development, specifically in the area that supports reason[1][2][3], shows that material development continues until our mid 20's.
Our position is that, all other things being equal, increasing 1 toward 25 is better than decreasing 2 toward 16 - given our improved ability to make such life-altering decisions.
Reflecting on how younger Canadians can learn about and participate in the democratic process, we will look at how what we know about how neurology balances against the need for personal agency and enfrachisement.
Sources:
Our Broader Stance on:
The very first finding in a 2019 review of the Canadian criminal justice system[1], was that "the [current] system is archaic and has not kept pace with social change [and] some of its values and principles are outdated, including relying too heavily on punishment and incarceration and not enough on rehabilitation."
The RPC believes the justice system should be restorative, proportional, compassionate, ethical, and equitable, not focused on punitive outcomes or corrupted for personal and political gain.
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