College candidate debate tells why students should be voting

A federal debate held by St. Clair College brought in candidates from four of the five political parties in the running. Students from the college’s Journalism and Media Convergence programs opened the night by asking the candidates the main theme of their campaigns. Through the night, the questions began to lean more towards student affairs and how to encourage student voting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Canada’s last federal election had less than half of youth aged 18-24 participate in the voting process. In 2011, an estimated 38.8 per cent of youth came to the polls. Politicians at the debate had similar opinions about young people being hesitant to vote because they aren’t well enough informed.

“Jobs aren’t coming from nowhere, it’s coming from the investment in business,” said Henry Lau, Windsor-West candidate for the Conservative Party of Canada. “When that’s done more students can be hired and they’ll be more involved in the voting process.”

Lau said he’s been a businessman and deep in the Windsor community for many years. He also said the Trans-Pacific Partnership is bringing in more than 8 million customers for Canada and students need to understand why it’s important.

To gain more student votes in the coming election, the Liberal Party of Canada is looking to lower tuition rates and make it easier to pay back student loans.

“You shouldn’t have to pay back your student loans until you have a job and are making a sufficient income to even worry about that,” said Dave Sundin, candidate for the Liberal Party of Canada.

Young voters need to vote to contribute to the election. Sundin said his party is implementing a youth job strategy. The goal is to get students work and to get them interested in voting again. Sundin said he knows people who received a proper education in Windsor but had to leave because there were no jobs available.

Former Windsor-West MP, Brian Masse also made an appearance at the debate. He said as a former St. Clair College alumni, the student vote is a very important factor in determining the proper way of running government.

“Students need a proper investment in education, they need investment in the economy, they need an investment in the environment.” said Masse, who is also a candidate for the New Democratic Party of Canada. “This will instill hope in voters.”

Masse and the other candidates all stuck around after the debate to talk to students about important affairs in their city and why it’s important to vote. The federal election is on Oct. 19.