Students are more politically engaged this federal election, according to candidates and students. There has been an increase in youth, aged 18 to 25, getting involved in campaigns and getting informed.
Neven Ahmad, a 22-year-old political science and communication major at the University of Ottawa, says she will definitely be voting. Ahmad, who is also the treasurer of the university’s Young Liberal club, says that most students she’s talked to on campus are planning to vote, as well.
“Either they are undecided or they already know who they’re voting for, but they are voting.” Ahmad says she sees a lot of people her own age when attending different political events.
Ramera Abraham, a 20-year-old law and music major at Carleton University, is also going to vote even though she’s not actively volunteering in politics.
She explains that she was born in Canada but lived in the Philippines for several years, only recently moving back to attend university. She says not growing up in Canada has affected her knowledge of Canadian politics, she says. Still, Abraham is trying to take in as much as she can because she considers herself Canadian and wants to vote.
“I feel the obligation to develop a more educated opinion on Canadian politics,” says Abraham. She says she feels this way because growing up outside of the country, she hasn’t witnessed Canada grow politically and she doesn’t want that to effect how she votes.
Abraham has been educating herself via the Internet, the news and through colleagues but also through political events hosted on campus such as the Rideau River Residence Association’s all candidate debate hosted on Sept. 23.
Both universities have been providing on-campus events and inviting the Ottawa Centre candidates to come speak with students.
However, candidates say that they interact with young people on other occasions as well. Many even take pride in having several students on their volunteer team.
“Most of our volunteers are either still studying or have just finished their undergraduate program and are perhaps going back to get a masters level,” says Tom Milroy of the Green Party.
NDP incumbent Paul Dewar says that on his team over half of the volunteers are of the younger demographic, ages 18 to 25.
Damian Konstantinakos of the Conservatives and Catherine McKenna of the Liberal Party mention that they also have students on their staff.
“Students are actually a key part of every campaign and not just the students who are political science or journalism,” he says. “Many of them get involved either through their campus clubs or through meeting with candidates canvassing at the door.”
He says that he tries to reach out to students in many ways, canvassing around Carleton, and on campus.
“I have a youth outreach coordinator who has engaged in a number of ways through student groups,” explains Konstantinakos. He adds that he’s also been reaching out through digital platforms and social media.
Other candidates are also trying to connect with the younger demographic.
“It’s been a priority for me from the very start to reach out to as many people as I can and get them engaged and believing in politics especially young people,” says McKenna.
Like Konstantinakos, she also uses social media, saying that digital platforms like Twitter help her connect to young people.
“What’s interesting is that if you actually engage with young people in a real way and you’re not just pushing out stuff, and they have a question and reach out to you and you respond, it actually makes a really big difference,” says McKenna.
Whether it is their engagement or a general rise in political interest, all four main candidates say they are seeing students more involved than ever this year.
This increase in political enthusiasm from students is a change from the last federal election in 2011.
According to Statistics Canada, only 50 per cent of people aged 18 to 24 voted in 2011. Top reasons for not voting were lack of interest, lack of time and being out of the country.
Bilan Arte, the National Chairperson for the Canadian Federation of Students, is not surprised by the low turnout last election and says that a major reason for it were between politicians and students. A lack of student issues on political platforms also disinterests students politically, says Arte.
The NDP and Green Party’s platforms are especially directed towards students. The NDP’s platform touches on paid and unpaid internships among other things.
Ahmed says she noticed that local candidate attempts to reach out to students. She says she believes inclusion in political platforms is making a difference. She specifically credits this change to two factors: parties focusing on the environment and the student desire for a change.
“One of the biggest issues for young people is the environment and how much we want to do as Canadians. But, I think it’s sort of the hype, we’ve had the same government for so long that I think now everybody loves it, or wants to change it,” she says.
Milroy agrees with Ahmed about youth wanting to see change in the government.
“When I spoke to the gathering at Carleton, it was obvious that there is discontent with the system and you know, the system sucks,” says Milroy.
McKenna echoes that sentiment. “I think that young people are very mad. I think that this time students are really motivated [and] they are tired of the Harper government.”
Dewar says that students need to realize that their vote matters and can change the current government. “They do have a voice and they should use it,” he says.