Candidate event aims to engage P.E.I. students in democracy, even if they can't vote yet
'Important that we know what we're talking about so we can make informed decisions'
Candidates in P.E.I.'s Malpeque riding fielded questions on important federal election issues Tuesday, even though the people they were trying to sway won't get a vote on April 28.
The forum was held at East Wiltshire Intermediate School in Cornwall, and the audience was made up of around 600 students from Grades 7 to 9 — aged roughly 12 to 15.
It's part of the Student Vote Canada program, which gives young people a chance to engage with politics in hopes that they'll become the voters of tomorrow.
"I thought this was very, very important, especially since some of the Grade 9s will be voting in four years' time," said Grade 9 student Owen Livingston.
"To be able to have a grasp on what their party's all about is really important, to see what they were talking about today," he said of the candidates.
Four of the five Malpeque candidates attended the forum and answered students' questions about their parties' policies on the carbon tax, housing and tariffs. Conservative nominee Jamie Fox sent his regrets, saying he couldn't make it "due to a personal matter."
The candidates who took part Tuesday told CBC News it's important to do events like this, even if the students can't vote now. They said it helps students understand who the candidates are and what they do, and gives them a glimpse inside the democratic process.
Student Vote Canada is being held in 7,000 schools across the country, including 50 on P.E.I., in the lead-up to the actual general election day.
After the candidate forums, students hold a vote and the results are revealed after the polls close across the country on April 28.
The goal of the program is to increase voter turnout among young people in Canada down the road, when they turn 18. In the 2019 federal election, less than half of eligible voters in the 18-24 age group cast a ballot.
"It's important because politicians look at these numbers and, through their policies and through their messaging, they're going to target who they know are going to come out and vote," said Dana Cotnareanu with Civix, the non-profit that runs Student Vote Canada in partnership with Elections Canada.
In most cases, that means older Canadians, who turn out in much greater percentages.
"It basically creates this vicious cycle where young people feel that politicians don't speak to them, don't speak to their issues," said Cotnareanu.
She said the program helps to give young people confidence to talk about the election process and be less intimidated by voting when the time comes.
Making better-informed decisions
Grade 9 student Charlotte Campbell wanted to know each of the Malpeque candidates' plans to combat U.S.-imposed tariffs, and whether they'd support removing or lowering fares for the Confederation Bridge and Northumberland Strait ferries.
She said having participated in the process Tuesday will be useful when she does reach voting age in four years.
"It's definitely important to develop opinions from a young age... You can keep building on those so you know what you're doing when you do get to voting age, so you don't just pick the coolest name," she said.
"It's important that we know what we're talking about so we can make informed decisions."
Molly Mitchell, a Grade 8 student, thought the forum will help open up more discussions among her friend group about the issues that could impact them.
"In four years, I'll be able to vote. A lot can change in four years, so I'm just hoping to see better change in the future," she said.
As for this election, she added: "I have a family that's very passionate about a lot of things. We all have a lot of thoughts about it."
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With files from Wayne Thibodeau