Originally Published: 2008-02-17

The Canadian government has made a right-about turn and will allow Italian-Canadian citizens to vote in order to elect a delegate in the Italian Parliament. Two years ago, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper met with Romano Prodi, Italy's prime minister, and clearly showed his divergence and doubts about voting abroad. In regards to this, he explained his preoccupation about the possibility that other large and integrated communities in Canada could argue for the same right.
The biggest fear came from the ethnic groups, which have internal problems related to violence, religious rights, and denied rights.
The last days have been crucial for putting away misgivings and pushing Ottawa to authorize the renewal of the agreement that allows Italian citizens resident in Canada to vote by mail and to present themselves as candidates in the appropriate electoral district. Franco Danieli, who is the Italian vice Minister of Foreign Affairs with a delegation for Italians around the world, asked Ottawa for the renewal of the agreement firstly signed two years ago, and Massimo D’Alema, the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, sent a letter to the Canadian counterpart. Gabriele Sardo, the Italian Ambassador in Canada, supported Danieli and D’Alema, and had an important role in the negotiations with the ministry of Foreign Affairs, and with Jason Kenney, who’s the Canadian Minister of Multiculturalism and had played a big role achieaving the positive outcome. Sardo's involvement has been instrumental for the success of the deal. He has convinced the Canadian government to accept the candidacy of Italian citizens resident in Canada as parliamentarians in a foreign country, and to allow the vote by mail or directly in Italy, as guaranteed by the Italian Constitution. U.S. and Australia are also accepting the Italian request.
Ottawa’s positive decision arrives at a difficult moment for the Canadian conservative government, which will probably step into an early election. Like the previous time with Paul martin, also Mr. Harper's decision applies only to this vote. As far as future elections are concerned, the debate is still open.

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