Letter from John G. Diefenbaker to Mrs. Hurley

FILE
cc. Rev. Dr. Kelly
cc. Hon. E. Davie Fulton
Vancouver, B.C.,
May 30th, 1962

Dear Mrs. Hurley,

I welcome the opportunity of reminding the Indian people of Canada that as a result of the amendments to the Indian Act and The Canada Elections Act introduced by the government which I have the honour to lead, the Indians of Canada now have the right to vote in federal elections without any restriction whatsoever, and we have thereby for the first time equalized the rights of the Indians with those of all other Canadian citizens. The right to vote is the greatest right of citizenship in a democracy.

Let us hope that Indians who now for the first time have representation in Parliament with the appointment by this government of Senator Gladstone, will by the exercise of their right do their part by their votes to elect representatives to the House of Commons so that their voice will be heard.

I most solemnly assure them that the exercise of this right can and will in no way affect the other rights or the status which our Indian people enjoy.

Yours sincerely,

[Stamp: Original signed by John G. Diefenbaker]

Mrs. Maisie Hurley,

Editor, The Native Voice,
510 West Hastings Street,
Vancouver, B.C.