With 3 elections on the horizon, new Canadians are learning how to cast their ballot

Newfoundland and Labrador is staring down federal, provincial, and municipal elections in the next eight months, but for one new Canadian the opportunity to vote is something she's not taking for granted.

"I come from a society where women are not allowed to go out or pursue their careers. So getting that opportunity in Canada, getting that sense of freedom, that sense of voice, and being able to make decisions for myself, I will be grateful to Canada for that forever," Shaiqa Bushra told CBC News.

Bushra is from India and received her Canadian citizenship last May. She cares about immigration policies, housing, the economy, and health care — an industry she hopes to work in.

She says voting is a civic duty and a gateway to impacting those systems.

"Canada has given me so much, academically, professionally, personally," Bushra said. "I feel there is a sense of responsibility in me now that I want to contribute to the society. I want to contribute to the community and make it an even better place."

WATCH | Shaiqa Brusha says she'll never take voting for granted:

This new Canadian says she won’t take her first opportunity to vote for granted

13 hours ago

Duration 2:23

After receiving Canadian citizenship in May, Shaiqa Bushra is getting ready to vote for the first time this year. She says having the right and responsibility to make her voice heard is something she'll cherish. The CBC's Jenna Head reports.

Bushra's sense of patriotism and civic responsibility is a feeling the Association of New Canadians works to foster through their language school, where the Canadian electoral system is learned and ingrained in the curriculum.

Newcomers concerned, curious

Leo Etchegary, director of language services with the Association for New Canadians (ANC), says Canada's upcoming elections are prompting a lot of interest and questions among students.

"For some of our clients, they've never participated in an election," Etchegary said. "A lot of their questions are pretty basic, actually. How does my vote count? Who counts it? Where does it go when I put my vote into a ballot box."

Others ask what each political party stands for and how that will impact their families, employment and immigration status.

"One of the biggest issues they care about is feeding their families and trying to make sure they have enough money and food to put on the table," Etchegary said. 

Ongoing tensions between Canada and the United States are also raising concerns.

"There's definitely concern from our newcomers about what's going to happen as we get into the election and who's going to be in power," he said.

Mock federal election

To answer those questions, the ANC holds a mock federal election where the voting process is the same as voting in real life. 

One of the classrooms will look like a polling station with booths, scrutineers, volunteers, monitors and chief returning officers.

"They learn about this process organically by participating in it," Etchegary said.

When it comes to ticking their real ballot, Etchegary said newcomers tend to prioritize people over political parties.

"Mayor Breen has come here several times to visit with us, and he's like a celebrity when Mayor Breen comes along," he said. "So they really focus on the person and, of course, on what they stand for."

The ANC's mock federal election will take place in the spring, which aligns with the expected timeline for the country's federal election.

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