Hello everyone! My name is Sadie McAlear and I am currently running for the position of Community Relations Rep on the Acadia Student Union Board. I am a second-year Science student majoring in Nutrition as well as a member of the Acadia Varsity Swim Team. Though I am a dedicated student and athlete, my passions reach beyond the pool and classroom: I simply love to learn. This is likely because I am fortunate enough to come from a long line of teachers who raised me in an environment that fostered a growth mindset in me which I apply to all aspects of my life. This has given me a diverse background made up of different experiences which will help me be the best representation between the students of Acadia and the permanent residents of Wolfville. I am a small-town girl through and through as I was raised in a community quite similar to Wolfville, and I understand the importance of having a unified and collaborative role within my community. There are few things I am more passionate about than creating a positive impact on those around me, and I believe this position is the perfect place for me to do just that. My ultimate goal is to help make Wolfville a place where students and residents live in harmony and work together to keep the town lively, respectful, and beautiful – as we all know it to be.
Tag: vote
Community Relations Representative: Wes Lepine
This is my last year at Acadia. I want to be as involved as I can in with the current students and residents of Wolfville. I love the community I live in. I have been a student leader in many clubs over the past few years, this year I want to be a student leader for all the off-campus students. My biggest goal is to help build positive relationships with the students and residents of Wolfville. I have a very large network of individuals who can help me make this happen. I have future plans to set up a few programs to help bridge the gap between these two parties. I want to find a safe and feasible way to increase student engagement in the community. I would love to take on the role of Community Relations Representative so I can represent the interests of the folks involved. I want to work at breaking down the division. Through my years at Acadia, I have developed the necessary skills in stakeholder management, communications, and public speaking where I feel I will be a very successful applicant for the position.
It Is Okay to Not Vote (Please Actually Read This Before You Annihilate Me)
This past Saturday was the last day to vote in the Nova Scotian municipal elections. By now, cities, towns, and districts will have their news mayors and councilors. I want to make it very clear that I do think that municipal politics are important. But I also think we need to stop guilting people for exercising their right to not vote.
Okay, please hear me out. I am very active in politics and have been since I was a teenager. I’ve voted in several municipal and federal elections, sometimes choosing to spoil my ballot. It is a privilege to be able to choose to not engage with politics. However, voting is not the only way to engage in politics. In fact, it might be one of the least meaningful ways to do so. As I have grown up, I have found the push to vote from various channels increasingly frustrating. I find that most folks who push others to vote, cite the following reasons: it’s your civic duty/democracy, every vote matters, and it seems lazy not to! Here’s why I think those reasons are unfair and dismissive:
1) Democracy/Civic Duty
I’d say this is the number one reason that people use to push others to vote. People fought for our right to vote, people of colour, and women (especially Black and Indigenous women) were denied the right to vote. Keeping this in mind, you should have the freedom to choose to not vote. Looking at the upcoming U.S. presidential election, the common narrative is to “choose the lesser of two evils”. I’m not sure about you but being forced to choose between two alleged rapist war criminals to run one of the most powerful countries in the world doesn’t really sound very democratic to me. The wise Geralt of Rivera from Netflix’s The Witcher says: “Evil is evil. Lesser, greater, middling, it makes no difference. If I’m to choose between one evil and another, I’d rather not choose at all”. Why should you be forced to vote for someone that goes against everything you stand for? Of course, there are other parties you can vote for but people who choose to do that are often met with sentiments like: “a vote for a third party/write-in is a vote for the enemy!”. Those ideas are the antithesis of a democracy. I don’t think it’s fair to fault people for refusing to participate in the very system they want to dismantle.
2) Every Vote Matters
Sure, statistically, every vote cast “counts”. Sometimes electoral races can come down to the nitty-gritty and a mere handful of votes can make the decision. That is, if you’re even able to vote in the first place. Blatant instances of voter suppression have existed since electoral races came into existence, and with time they have not slowed down. Racial gerrymandering (the deliberate redrawing of district lines to serve specific interests), voter intimidation (despite it being illegal, mayoral candidate of Halifax Matt Whitman showed up to the polls in full Whitman 2020 gear. That’s the guy who is obsessed with the genocidal Edward Cornwallis), and technology issues are all instances of voter suppression that still happen. Less than a month ago, students at Mount Allison university in New Brunswick were turned away at the polls, even though it was their right to vote. If you are homeless, it is not easy to vote. You need specific identification that proves your identity that you simply might not have or you need someone to vouch for you that can prove their identity. In some states, folks with a criminal record or currently serving prison time may not be permitted to vote. Black people (especially Black women) in the United States historically show up and show out to every midterm and presidential election, yet they are still being killed in the streets by police officers who are time and time again acquitted for murder. When people say that “every vote counts”, I can’t help but think that it really translates to “only specific people’s votes count”.
3) It Seems Lazy Not To!
Really? After everything I’ve written about the obstacles to vote and the ethics of voting, do you think people who exercise their right to abstain from voting are lazy and disengaged? Although there are commendable efforts to make polling stations more accessible, there is clearly still work to be done.
I mentioned at the beginning of this article that it is a privilege to have the option to not be engaged in politics and there are other ways to do this besides voting. You can donate to organizations, help with supply runs for water and land defenders, march and protest, educate your family and friends on important social and political issues, be an ally for oppressed groups, and so much more. There is power outside of just the ballot box.
Why Your Vote Matters + a Debrief of the Major Political Parties
October 21st, 2019 is a very important day for Canadians all over the country, it is our federal election. The party voted in will be the government in power for the next four years. It is our chance as citizens to voice our beliefs and vote for whatever party we feel represents us best.
Many students around campus may not realize why they are continually encouraged to vote in the upcoming election. They may be asking themselves “does my vote really matter?”. The answer to that question is YES. Your vote is your voice and although there are reasons why people may not want to vote, there are also so many reasons why you should.
“What is the point of voting when I already know how my riding will vote?”
The biggest reason why Canadians tend to not vote is that they feel powerless as a single individual and assume that the riding they are voting in will inevitably vote for a specific party. It is important to remember that your riding may continually result in one outcome because the majority of the people voting in that riding voted for that specific party. This ‘inevitability’ can be changed with your vote. If everyone who thinks as you do chooses not to vote because of a consistent outcome, then, of course, things won’t change. However, if all these people, including you, decided to vote and share their voices then the party that the majority voted for in your riding may change. Don’t be deterred by your riding’s past. New people can vote every single year and it has been four years since the last federal election.
Our school has partnered with the ‘Get Out the Vote Campaign’ in order to encourage Acadia students to vote. Their website goes over where and when you can vote on campus as well as what you need to bring in order to vote at the polling stations. Additionally, you can pledge your vote on their homepage. Doing so allows the campaign to gain an understanding of how many students from each university plan on voting. Acadia University is also competing against the other schools in Nova Scotia to see who gains the most pledges.
Many students on campus have not been exposed to some of the parties or their campaigns yet. In order for those people to gain a full understanding of each party and their promises, a summary of all four major parties in Canada are listed below:
Conservative Party of Canada
In 2003 when the Progressive Conservative Party merged with the Canadian Reform Conservative Alliance Party, the Conservative Party of Canada was born, technically making it Canada’s newest party. This party in the words of their own mission statement primarily, “stand for sovereignty and a strong national defense; open federalism and national unity; free enterprise and individual achievement”.
The head of their party, since May 27th, 2017, is Andrew Scheer. He has previously been an elected Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) from 2004 up until he was elected head of the Conservative Party. During his time in office, Scheer was elected Speaker of the House of Commons and served as Official Opposition House Leader. Scheer is currently running on his vision: “where taxes are low, government is limited, opportunity is unlimited, freedom is shared, and people are put before government!”
Upon reaching out to Kings-Hants Conservative representative Martha Maquarrie, to ask her a few questions regarding her party and platform, The Athenaeum received no response.
Liberal Party of Canada
As Canada’s oldest political party, the Liberal Party of Canada is the current governing party. While this party can be traced back far in history, the principles of the party have always been based on the ideas of liberalism including individual freedom for present and future generations, a just society, political freedom, religious freedom, national unity, equality of opportunity, cultural diversity, bilingualism, and multilateralism. Modernly the liberals are a party that is not only fiscally responsible but socially progressive.
The party’s current Leader is Justin Trudeau who has been the party leader since 2013 and the Prime Minister of Canada since 2015. Since taking office in 2015, Trudeau has completed some of the major promises he ran on in 2015 such as the legalization of marijuana. Trudeau has many ideas for Canada if re-elected and when asked why Canadians should vote for him? He replied that Canadians “are dreamers, innovators, builders. We know that in Canada, better is always possible. And we deserve a government that knows that too.”
Kings-Hants Liberal Representative Kody Blois sat down with The Athenaeum last week and gave us some insight into the Liberal party and their platform. This enlightening interview with Blois will be shared next week and will be available on The Athenaeum website then for those interested.
Canada’s New Democratic Party (NDP)
Canada’s New Democratic Party was originally a socialist party, that went under the name of the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), whose goal was to democratically get rid of the capitalist system and instead rely on a government-planned economy. Since then the NDP have moved in a more moderate direction with the goal of implementing social democracy with a mixed economy. Now, this party is considered quite similar to the Liberals in terms of their beliefs but are slightly more aggressive regarding their positions on topics such as non-interventionist foreign policy and higher taxation for the wealthier individuals.
Jagmeet Singh has been the head of the NDP since October 1st, 2017 and served as a Member of the Provincial Parliament (MPP) for the Ontario New Democratic Party from 2011 – 2017. Only four years after working as an MPP, Singh became the deputy leader of the Ontario NDP and is the first non-christian person from a minority group to lead a party through a major election. Singh has previously said about his party, “The defining feature of the NDP – of every New Democrat – is that we are not only offended by inequality, we put everything we have into fighting it.”
The Green Party of Canada
Originally the Green Party of Canada was a one-issue party, only looking to raise awareness about the environment. When former leader Jim Harris took over the party in 2003, the Greens expanded from their one-issue ideals and began to market themselves as a center-left party. Since then the Greens have been slowly gaining popularity as they loudly voice their support for participatory democracy, nonviolence, social justice, sustainability, respect for diversity and ecological wisdom.
Elizabeth May, current leader since 2006, was the Green Party’s first elected Member of Parliament. A frequent volunteer and protester, May received a degree in law and immediately began working on behalf of consumer, poverty and environmental groups. Since becoming MP in 2011 May has received many titles by her fellow MPs: Parliamentarian of the Year 2012, Hardest Working MP 2013, and Best Orator 2014. Additionally, Hill Times recognized her as the Hardest Working MP, Best Constituency MP, and Best Public Speaker in both 2013 and 2014. As the climate crisis becomes more apparent to citizens around the world today May states: “I hold a vision of this blue-green planet, safe and in balance… we are emerging to a new reality. We are ready to make the next leap – as momentous as abolishing slavery or giving women the vote.”
Now that you are familiar with the basics of each party, you can go to this website which shows each parties’ platforms regarding important public policies, such as healthcare and education, for this upcoming election.
Net Neutrality: The Vote That Keeps Happening
So, it’s that time of year again, no not Christmas, unfortunately. I’m talking about the FFC’s vote to roll back net neutrality. The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) is an independent government agency that regulates interstate communications such as radio, TV, etc. This group has been trying to roll back net neutrality in past few years. For those of you that do not know what net neutrality is, it is basically what allows a person to go on to the internet, and not have companies like AT&T, Verizon, Comcast, etc. mess with your data, or your internet speed. Net Neutrality keeps an open internet that’s free for everyone to communicate. The consequences of losing Net Neutrality will have a significant impact on the internet as a whole. These consequences include:
#1: The FCC would have the power to block sites they dislike such as anything that competes with these companies.
#2: They could make sites like YouTube payable, in other words, those music videos you watch on the weekends for free, now will cost money.
#3: It will make it extremely difficult for small companies and entrepreneurs to get off the ground to compete against these big companies.
#4: They can slow down or speed up your internet speed, and you might have to pay that company for faster internet speeds.
Overall, if this vote passes, it will be the end of a free, easy to access internet, and in its place will, will be an internet run by a few big companies. As I mentioned before, the FCC has tried to do this before as recently as 2015. If you wish to know more about this then I suggest watching John Oliver as he has two videos on the subject. Net Neutrality deals with the 2015 vote, while he has recently put up a video known as Net Neutrality II. The vote for Net Neutrality takes place DEC. 14th 2017.
We often take this for granted as this has be an open internet for as long as we can remember, but soon that may no longer be the case. However, there are a number of people, like myself, who dislike the FCC’s vote on this. At the moment, various groups are trying to stop the vote or are trying to have the vote in favour of the way things stand now.
Vote! Vote! Vote!
Get off your arse and vote. Yes you. Wolfville is having a municipal election on October 15, 2016 and you should vote. You may be under the false pretense that this election does not pertain to you but I am here to assure you that as a resident of Wolfville and a student, this election has everything to do with you. Once you have read this list of compelling evidence, you are welcome to continue to be an apathetic citizen if I fail to persuade you of the utmost importance of your vote.
Maybe you do not fall under the category of “people who refuse to vote.” Maybe you vote in your hometown. You are a step ahead of many of your classmates, but still you must vote here in Wolfville. You may love your hometown dearly but the fact remains that you live in Wolfville 8 out of the 12 months of the year. That, my friends, is a majority so mathematical logic suggests you are more affected by the municipal government here in the Valley than anywhere else.
Perhaps you believe your vote won’t make a difference. Well, if everyone was as cynical as you, no one would vote, there would be no election, no democracy, and we would all live in a form of authoritarian regime that would make you wish you had voted.
It may be the case that you simply have no idea what the municipal government does. Fair enough, Grade 8 was a long time ago. Municipal government is charged with the responsibility of maintenance of all the services here in Wolfville. For example, the construction on Highland Street that is ongoing is the responsibility of the municipal government. That alone should be enough incentive for you to cast your vote.
Maybe you are a unicorn, and the inefficiency of Wolfville construction does not bother you. Well the election still pertains to you because you are a student living in a student town. This town cares about its students but it’s hard for this town to represent you if you don’t tell them what you want through your vote. There is a whole committee in this town dedicated to enhancing the relationship between the town and Acadia. The Acadia Town and Gown committee is made up of Council members, Acadia student representatives, and the mayor itself in order to address issues of common concern between these two bodies. There are also by laws that directly affect you as student residents of Wolfville, for example, The Prevention of Excessive Noise Bylaw is a common one that you may or may not encounter on a weekly basis.
What goes on in the municipal government affects you as a citizen of democracy, a resident of Wolfville, and a student of Acadia. So now that I have convinced you to vote you need to ensure that you are 18 years old, a citizen of Canada (sorry International Students) and you’ve been a resident of Nova Scotia for 6 months (sorry out of province first years)! The Town of Wolfville is making it so easy for you to vote by offering an advanced polling location at the Acadia Student Union Building on October 6 from 8 am until 12 pm. Who do I vote for, you ask? Stay tuned for the next article of the Athenaeum for a list of candidates for Councillor.
ASU By-Election Candidate Platforms
Presidential Candidate
Suzanne Gray
“Hello Acadia students!
My name is Suzanne Gray and I am running for the position of President for the Acadia Students’ Union.
A little bit about myself: I am a 4th year business student with a major in French. I am from Hubley, NS but call beautiful Wolfville my home. During my Acadia experience I have been heavily involved with the ASU and held various leadership positions. I know the ASU inside out and I love working for students!
A little bit about my platform: It consists of action items that will benefit students in the short and long term.
- Develop Sexual Health initiatives, similar to the work I have done with alcohol harm reduction, alongside Student Services
- Work with the Office of the Chair to improve succession planning
- “Clean up” internal governance and ensure that the constitution is current and responsive to any challenge that may arise
- Work towards making the ASU Students’ Centre completely accessible and work with the University for accessibility in all campus buildings
- Bring the Axe Lounge renovation project to referendum so you, the students, can provide direction
- Create a long-term agreement with the Associated Alumni of Acadia University which will benefit us as students and future alumni
With my passion and experience, I believe I can effectively manage the Executive Leadership Team to serve the students to the best of their ability. Let’s finish 2015/2016 off strong!
On November 12 & 13 vote Suzanne Gray as your President. Experience you can count on!”
Vice-President Communications Candidates
Bethany Dickey
Hi everyone! My name is Bethany Dickey and I’m in my fourth year at Acadia studying business. I’ve been extremely involved in the Acadia community since I started school here, and for my last year I’d love to be your Vice President of Communications. I want to make sure that everyone is always up to date and has all the correct information on ASU events, without overloading you with information! I have a lot of experience with communications; I was the Co-President of Enactus Acadia for two years which required me to act with all of our VP’s, Project Managers and stay in constant contact with all members. I was also the President of the Acadia Children’s Wish Society and I am on the Board of Directors for the Acadia Entrepreneurship Centre. As a business student, I feel very qualified to professionally interact with the town and maintain good relations, and oversee the operations of clubs within the ASU. I pride myself on my organizational skills and time management abilities and know I could do a great job balancing all the roles of VP Communications.
In all aspects of my life I’ve utilized communication skills to the fullest; I’ve travelled to 19 countries over the past 3 years learning new languages. If you have any questions about my experience or my platform, don’t hesitate to reach out via email or social media! I’d love to chat about anything from Acadia to travelling!
Ted Higa
This lovely photo recollects memories of my time as a Resident Assistant in Cutten House during 2014/15 academic years. “How are you an RA?” people would truthfully joke. With an avid and outgoing social life, mixed with a crammed baseball schedule, balancing academics, all while providing the largest residents on campus with the support of an RA. Even I sometimes wonder how I was an RA!
It was a challenge, a challenge that involved sacrifices, critical thinking and lots of communication.
Utilizing leadership skills acquired through team experience with the Acadia Axemen, time management obtained through the business program and my extroverted personality to my strengths, I was able to connect with 300+ students in our building that was listed as the 9th best residencies in Canadian schooling by the Huffington Post.
Throwing a Taco dinner for 60 residents, jumping straight into my second duty round without a break because I spent the whole two hours conversing with residents, and guiding new and returning residents in a safer and smarter direction for campus living. It’s truly an amazing experience, one that I would recommended to anyone who wants to progress their maturity and responsibility throughout their time in university.
I learned a valuable lesson in my year as an RA- communication is key. We are a unique school, with diverse opinions. Communication isn’t just talking- it’s listening.
My name is Ted Higa, I am running for VP Communication and, I am on your side.
On Voting
It is no secret to anyone that voter turnout in Canada has been on a downward trend. According to Elections Canada, the turnout for the last federal election in 2011 was 61.4% – the third lowest in our country’s history. The turnout among students and younger people in particular is lower than any other age group (this is not to say that other factors such as economic and social status are not equally responsible). National estimates cite a shocking 38.8% for voters between the ages of 18-24. That number sucks. According to a poll conducted by Statistics Canada, the most common reason given for the people in this age group was that they were not interested in voting. Others stated that they were too busy with school or their work, and others were away or traveling. Interestingly enough, for senior citizens, the most common reason for not voting was due to illness or disability. And yet just over 75% of people in the age group 65-74 voted. Is it safe to assume that seniors respect democracy more than students do?
I believe there is another reason that plays a big role. This election will be the first time that many university students are eligible to vote federally. It can be an intimidating process. Several questions will arise, doubts will start to form. When voting day rolls around, the effort to go to a polling station won’t be made. After that, continued apathy towards voting seems almost permanent. How can this be avoided? Firstly, if you are feeling this way, know that you are not alone. Secondly, there is an abundance of available resources online and on-campus that help students with their first vote. One such resource is the Get Out the Vote! Campaign (if you would like to learn more about them, I highly encourage you to check out their website). The campaign is headed by Fallis Thompson, VP Academic for the Acadia Students’ Union. You can pledge to vote from their website.
Of course, having the right to vote also means having the right not to vote. It is not a responsibility or a civic duty. It is a privilege. If you don’t like the choices, then why bother choosing? Feel free to spoil your ballot. And I don’t agree with the argument that says that “those who didn’t vote don’t have the right to complain.” I retain my right to complain about everything. That being said, I strongly believe that students should vote. I believe that students should exercise their civic right and fulfill their role in democracy.
Why? I suppose the answer is a bit of a cliché. Whether it comes down to something more immediate like education or something more long-term like fossil fuel consumption, there is no doubt that the decisions made today will affect our futures tomorrow. And who is it that inherits that future? We do! Moreover, students have a huge capacity to manipulate the social agenda to their will. Consider the student movement in Quebec in 2012. Premier Jean Charest proposed a tuition raise of almost 75%. As a result, a quarter million people took to the streets in protest. While this is definitely an extreme case, I also believe it demonstrates just how underestimated the student population is when it comes to its ability to partake in civic engagement. “I feel like some students don’t realize the large impact they can have in this election,” Thompson says. “Actions speak louder than words and voting is the perfect example of that.”
There are a hundred reasons you can come up with not to vote, whether it be apathy or ignorance. But when it comes down to it, what will really be stopping you from casting a ballot? I hope you will think about it and ask yourself if the obstacle is something you can overcome. Don’t let first time intimidation stop you. Make yourself heard. Shape your future the way you want it to be shaped. Vote in the federal election on October 19th, 2015.
Links:
Pledge to Vote: http://asu.getoutthevote.ca/
Get Out The Vote FAQ: http://www.getoutthevote.ca/voting_faq
Voter Turnout At Federal Elections and Referendums: http://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?dir=turn&document=index&lang=e§ion=ele#ftn2
Factors associated with voting: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/75-001-x/2012001/article/11629-eng.htm
Reasons for not voting in the May 2, 2011 federal election: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/110705/dq110705a-eng.htm
Estimation of Voter Turnout by Age Group and Gender at the 2011 Federal Election: http://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=res&dir=rec/part/estim/41ge&document=report41&lang=e#p41
