Pubdate: Fri, 16 Oct 2015
Source: Sun Times, The (Owen Sound, CN ON)
Copyright: 2015 Owen Sound Sun Times
Contact: http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/letters
Website: http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1544
Author: Rob Gowan
Page: A1

CANDIDATES SING STUDENTS PRAISES

Debates at high schools called the most important all-candidate
sessions of the campaign

The Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound federal candidates wrapped up their
all-candidates meeting schedules in front of a crowd that included
many who won't even be eligible to vote come Monday.

But all four candidates agreed their debates held in front of
students, like the one at OSCVI on Thursday, have been among some of
the most important in advance of Monday's vote.

"For politicians or aspiring politicians, this is where candidates
debates actually do some good," Conservative incumbent Larry Miller
said following the morning session in front of more than 300 students.

"These kids here, you hope you help mould their opinion that they
should vote. To me that is always my message when I go to a school. It
is far more important than what your party stance is."

Miller said of the seven or eight debates he participated in, the
three he did in schools were by far the most productive.

"Any school I have ever went to, whether it is at a candidates debate
or just speaking to classes as an MP, the questions that come from the
kids always amaze me," said Miller. "They are well researched and they
want to know the answers to it."

Liberal candidate Kimberley Love said she has been energized by
Liberal leader Justin Trudeau's ability to bring young people into
politics and wants to do the same.

"I think our students are more aware . . . young people are
registering to vote in record numbers," said Love. "It is great being
out at a high school like this where they are asking informed
questions, interesting questions, engaged questions. The questions are
as good here as they have been at any of the debates."

Love, who has participated in 10 all-candidates meetings, said there
are particular issues that the students seem to be engaged in
including marijuana legalization and post-secondary education costs.

"While young people are also interested in international affairs, they
do tend to have a group of issues that are important to them," she
said.

"We are making decisions on their futures and we need to hear them as
candidates."

NDP candidate David McLaren also said the student debates are among
the most important.

"I think it is absolutely essential that students have a taste of what
politics is like, who the candidates are and what they stand for," he
said. "I would like to see more of that done. I would like to see that
almost like a regular feature in civics classes."

McLaren said he has talked to students about politics and is sometimes
surprised with their lack of knowledge about certain aspects.

"They get something about the different parties, but they don't seem
to know all that much about the house versus the senate versus the
courts and how it is all supposed to work together," said McLaren.

"When they are suddenly confronted with four candidates with different
positions it must be sort of a head scratcher for them about where we
are coming from."

The Green Party's Chris Albinati said there is nothing more important
in getting young people engaged in the vote and the issues than having
debates in front of them.

"It really allows us to showcase what democracy is about," he said.
"At the same time it gives them an opportunity to be involved."

At one point during Thursday's session, Albinati asked students 16 and
older to raise their hands and most in the room did. It was his way of
showing how a Green Party policy to lower the voting age from 18 to 16
would allow them to cast ballots.

"We understand kids are far more informed than they used to be, if
that is the rationale for why the voting age is 18," said Albinati.
"Also, it engages them and helps to address the problems we have with
low voter turnout when it comes to youth."

Among the topics covered Thursday were tuition costs, Internet access,
legalization of marijuana, veterans affairs, health care and support
for the local lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and queer community.

On the subject of tuition costs, Love said a Liberal government would
invest in co-op opportunities, increase grants in student loan
programs and wouldn't require students to repay student loans until
they are making at least $25,000.

One of the loudest cheers came when Albinati outlines his party 's
plans to eliminate tuition for post-secondary schools in Canada by
2020.

McLaren said the money is not yet there for a party to be able to
provide a free post-secondary education. He said his party would
reduce interest rates on student debt and find new ways to fund
post-secondary education so tuition fees don't have to be increased.

Miller said "nothing is free" and told the students to ask their
parents if they are willing to pay higher taxes in order to fund free
tuition.

"What other service are they willing to give up to cover that?" Miller
asked.

Legalization of marijuana was also a popular issue among the students
with Albinati, McLaren and Love all speaking in favour of legalizing
the drug.

"If you legalize it you can regulate it, you can tax it, you can
control it," said Love.

Miller said he personally feels it is time to look at the laws so that
young people don't end up with a criminal record for simple possession.

"I would support looking at decriminalizing it," Miller
said.

Robert Gordon, student organizer for the meeting, said the debate is
held to get students more involved in the process and encourage the
ones that can to vote.

"Voter turnout this year actually has been up for the advance polling
at least," said Gordon. "We are hoping to try and get the youth to
vote in larger numbers so they actually have a bigger effect on the
election than in previous years."

Gordon said that by introducing the students who are not yet able to
vote to the process at a young age, it will help encourage them to
vote when they become eligible.

All students at the school will have the opportunity to vote in a mock
election on Monday as part of the Student Vote 2015 program, which is
designed to encourage students to become engaged and get involved in
the process.
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MAP posted-by: Matt