Ontario Provincial Election: October 6, 2011

-by Tiffany Mckenzie- JFCY Volunteer and PLE Team Member

This coming Thursday is a very important day.  You may not be old enough to vote, but that doesn’t mean that Thursday is just another day.

Do you know what I’m referring to?

Although it seems we have had an endless stream of elections over the past years, this year’s provincial election has been the quieter one of the bunch.  However, to all the youth out there, this election does impact you. The provincial government is responsible for passing laws that impact your life, including laws about school, employment, housing, and social welfare benefits. 

In startling newspaper articles it is estimated that a large percentage of “of age” youths do not vote or participate in elections.  What gives?

There is the adage that it doesn’t matter what we think but “that guy” is going to win anyways.

Well, not so fast.  We are young.  We are going to change the world.  Why should we let other people decide our futures for us? If you are old enough, get out and vote!

If you aren’t old enough to vote, that doesn’t mean you should disregard the political process either.  Be involved in any way that you can.  When you take civics in high school, actually pay attention to what’s going on so that you can understand how our government works, and eventually vote and maybe even run as a candidate in a future election...

For more info on this election, check out this website: http://wemakevotingeasy.ca/en/home.aspx

Tiffany is a volunteer member of the JFCY Public Legal Education Team.  She is a law clerk in Toronto.