Guide to voting in the 2019 Canadian Federal Election Voting made easy in 4 simple steps! Faith Collier Hello UFV! It is that time of the year again… and no, I don’t mean Christmas. However, this event is just as exciting! Federal election day is coming up, and there is a lot on the line folks, so make sure you get your vote straight! Maybe you’re a first-time voter like myself, or just haven’t had the time to properly research your options. You might feel unsure of where to start, how to vote, or even whom to vote for. If you are dealing with any of these, then look no further! This article is meant for you. So sit back, relax, and educate yourself on the Canadian federal election.
Step 1: Make sure you are eligible to vote Before you start your research, make sure you check off these things to see if you are eligible to vote. In order to vote in a Canadian federal election you must be: •
A Canadian citizen (temporary and permanent residents cannot vote)
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At least 18 years old on election day
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Have proof of your identity and address
It also helps to be registered on the voters list (also called the list of electors). This can easily be done with a quick search online. You can also register when you go to vote. After these boxes are checked off, you are officially able to vote! However, there are a few more things to consider.
Step 2: Choose your fighter (or in this case, Party) Now, most inexperienced voters might think that when they participate in the federal election, their vote goes straight to the leader of their chosen party. However, this is not the case. In every district, there is a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) that represents each party running in the election. If the MLA gets enough votes from their district, they are then given a seat in the House of Commons. There, they represent their district and its people.Voting is a piece of cake once you’ve figured out whom to vote for, and here in Canada, we have four major parties running in the federal election: the Liberal party, the Green party, the New Democrat Party, and the Conservative party. There are also other minor parties running, such as the Bloc Québécois, the People's Party of Canada, the Libertarian party, and more. Each party has their own platform based on issues and morals that they find important. Sound overwhelming? Have no fear! Let’s break it down step by step by examining the history of the four major parties, as well as their policies, promises, political platforms, and their future plans for some hot topics.
The Liberal Party: Founded in the 19th century by the reformed French-Canadians and Catholics, this party had changed a lot over the years, holding traditional liberal values of personal responsibility, free markets, and strengthening the bonds between French and English Canadians. Two iconic figures for the Liberal party are Sir Wilfrid Laurier and Pierre Trudeau, both of whom served as prime ministers in Canada. Currently, the Liberals hold a majority government with Justin Trudeau, their leader, as our prime minister. Back in 2015, Justin Trudeau was a fresh face after years of a Conservative government. Now, the Liberal party is focusing on beneficial changes regarding Indigenous rights and livelihoods, boosting the economy, and helping the middle class.
Hot topics for 2019 Taxes: The Liberal party promises to cut the taxes of middle-class citizens. They say they will raise the Basic Personal Amount, a tax credit Canadians with an income of less than $147,000 per year can claim on their income tax return. Doing this, they claim, will allow them to let middle-class Canadians not pay federal taxes on the first $15,000 of income earned. The Liberal party is focused on a stable economy, which they say can be maintained by cracking down on tax evasion, asking the wealthiest Canadians to pay more, and making sure that the wealthy do not benefit from unfair tax breaks. They claim that a national tax on vacant properties owned by non-Canadians who don’t live in Canada will reduce the uncertainty that drives up the price of homes. They also are planning on introducing a new 10 per cent tax on luxury cars, boats, and personal aircraft over $100,000 Deficits and debt: The Liberal party wants to reduce the debt-to-GDP ratio. They claim that Canada has a good credit rating, which they want to maintain. They say they will continue to invest in families, jobs, and livable communities. They want to have an in-
depth review of all government spending and tax expenditures and will also address the issues of tax evasion and ensure that the wealthiest of Canadians pay their share. Health: The Liberal party has put forward a plan they say will improve the lives of all Canadians: it includes providing access to affordable medications, better mental health services, and at-home and palliative care. The party plans to spend $6 billion over the next four years to support a stronger medicare and public health system to help more Canadians receive the proper medical care that they need. Climate change and environment: The current Liberal government adopted the Oceans Plastics Charter in 2018, a global initiative where governments work towards reducing plastic pollution, and promise to invest $100 million to address plastic waste in developing countries. Also, the party has banned products with plastic microbeads, which are harmful to Canadian freshwater and marine ecosystems. Trudeau has claimed that the Liberals will ban single-use plastics by 2021 and, with the current climate plan, claim they will reduce carbon emissions by 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2050. Indigenous affairs: The Liberal party’s 2019 platform states they will make the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) Canadian law. They say they will continue the progress that has been made towards eliminating all long-term drinking water advisories on reserves by 2021, and transition all Indigenous communities to clean and renewable energy sources.
The Conservative Party: As the founding political party of Canada, the Conservatives have had periods in both power and in opposition. The current iteration of the Conservative party was formed in 2003, caused by the merging of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party. Before the Liberals took power in the 2015 federal election, the Conservatives were in power with Stephen Harper as prime minister. Andrew Scheer is the current leader of the Conservative party, and has been the leader of the Official Opposition since 2017. The Official Opposition is typically the second largest party in the legislative house. The task of the Official Opposition is to act as balance of power for the winning party; their leader receives certain privileges in the House of Commons and must be consulted on certain decisions and appointments. The Conservative party’s values include national independence, military strength and spending, a national unity and identity that includes Quebec, free enterprise, and individualism. They haven't released their full party platform yet, but plan to do so on Oct. 11.
Hot topics for 2019 Taxes: With Andrew Scheer’s “universal tax cut,” the Conservatives claim they will lower income taxes for every Canadian. The tax rate on an income under $47,630 will be reduced to 13.75 per cent (from 15 per cent) saving Canadians up to $440 on their taxes. The Conservative party says they value financial transparency. They say that by lowering taxes and leaving more money in the hands of individuals, they can establish a higher quality of life for all Canadians. Deficits and debt: The Conservative goal is to reduce Canada’s deficit and balance the national budget over the next five years. According to their statement, they want to run a government that lives within their means so that they no longer have to borrow money. The party is focused on economic growth through job creation, which they say will help people get out of poverty. Health: The Conservative party wants to invest $1.5 billion in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines and computed tomography (CT) machines for hospitals across Canada. They have promised to use federal funding for healthcare to increase funding for provincial health care services and funding for provincial social services by a minimum of three per cent per year. Climate change and the environment: According to the Conservative party, their “A Real Plan to Protect Our Environment” is a way to reduce pollution in Canada without a carbon tax. They say they would require companies to reduce their emissions and would be required to invest a set amount for every tonne of greenhouse gas they emit above the limit in research, development, and adoption of emissions-reducing technology related to their industry. Currently, the Conservative party has not yet declared what this limit may be. Indigenous affairs: Since there was nothing on the official Conservative campaign website detailing Indigneous affairs, Brad Vis, the Conservative party MLA candidate running for the Mission-Matsqui-Fraser Canyon district, was reached out to for comment. He said the Conservative party recognizes the special connection Indigneous people have with the environment. According to Vis, the party wishes to collaborate with Indigenous peoples and use their traditional knowledge to help combat climate change.