Federal candidates from five political parties set up at the University of Victoria's Student Union Building as part of the B.C. Federation of Students' Shape the Vote campaign, which aims to get increased numbers of youth and students in British Columbia out to the polls this federal election.
Candidates from the ridings of Victoria, Saanich-Gulf Islands and Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke, representing the Communist Party, Green Party, Liberal Party, NDP and the People's Party, spoke with students and listened to their concerns.
The April 9 Meet the Candidates event was organized by the UVic Students' Society (UVSS) to allow students to hear the various party platforms to help them cast an informed vote.
Among the issues most pressing to the students are affordability and housing.
"I think the housing market is in shambles. I heard some of the [candidates] talking about standardizing rent prices, I think that would be good if prices came down. It's tough to pay for rent," said Jackson Leach, a student who was making their way from table to table, chatting with the MP hopefuls.
Two other students, Ella and Nahar, lamented the growing income equality in B.C. and Canada, and the increased cost of living that has especially hit young people and students.
"I am seeing, especially in B.C., really extreme income inequality. And I feel like that's something that should be addressed in terms of housing," said Ella.
According to the UVSS, voters aged 18-35 are the largest voting bloc in Canada, meaning young people have the ability to decide which party will lead Canada.
“This campaign is about more than just casting a ballot. It’s about making sure students know they have a voice, and that it matters,” said Isabelle Easton, UVSS director of campaigns and community relations, in a news release.
The UVSS, along with 13 other student unions representing more than 170,000 students across the province, will be running the campaign up until the election to encourage students to use their vote.
“It’s so important that our elected officials take the time to meet young people where we’re at. When MPs show up on campus, they’re showing us that our voices matter,” noted Easton in the release. “For many students, this might be their first time voting – meeting MPs face-to-face helps make politics more real, more accessible, and more relevant.”
