My first job as a newcomer to Canada was a strange way to stay connected to the political scene back home. This is that story.
election
“Just because they’re young, doesn’t mean they don’t have a voice, and they are our future. I really look to our young to be the ones that are going to make the positive changes. Our youth need to be emphasized,” said Paul Durst.
“It’s not really about me. What I’m running for is electoral reform…. So really, I just want people to be able to have more accountability over their elected representatives,” says Keegan Bennett, an independent candidate.
Stephanie Mercier spoke about student debt, housing, health care, the climate crisis, and inequality.
“Vote for the ideas that truly reflect your interest and the interest of the advancement of the working class,” says Communist Party of Canada candidate Michelle Paquette.
The incumbent MP and Liberal candidate for Ottawa-Vanier says she will prioritize affordable housing and fighting the climate crisis if elected. For students, Fortier says she’ll work to secure federal funding to help the province boost mental health support on campus.
“I live here, I breathe here, I work here, this is my environment. This is where I call home. So, I understand their reality, and the best way to represent people is to understand their reality,” says NDP candidate, Oriana Ngabirano.
For October’s federal election, most polls are indicating that both the Liberals and Conservatives are tied for Canadians’ support. This means that it is more than likely that either party will end up with less than a majority of the seats in the House of Commons, thereby swinging the determination of the balance of power to the smaller parties.
Candidates met Thursday night to discuss topics such as water protection, pollution, agriculture, and transitioning Canada’s economy away from resource extraction and unsustainable energy.
The University of Ottawa Students’ Union has revealed the key dates of its fall byelection. Voting will run from Nov. 6-8, with one spot on the executive committee and nine seats on the Board of Directors up for grabs. An executive candidates debate is set for Nov. 4.
