David Coon proposes bill to drop voting age to 16

Green Party Leader David Coon wants 16-year-olds in the province to be able to vote in the next provincial election.

David Coon introduced a bill in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday that would lower the voting age from 18 to 16.

The Fredericton South MLA said it was time to give young people a voice in politics. He also hopes changing the voting age would inspire and engage teens.

Its time we give young people a voice in the future of our province, Coon said in a statement.

One certain way to do that is to lower the voting age to 16."

Coon said there was no better way to get youth involved in shaping the future of New Brunswick.

The provincial voting age in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador is 18-years-old. The age to vote in a federal election is also 18.

Debate on Coons bill will take place in 2015.