For those of you who haven’t noticed that there’s a federal election going on: what kind of rock are you living under, and where can I get one like it? For everyone else, the constant bombardment of information from every possible medium makes it difficult to process what goes into an election campaign, leading to cynicism and apathy.
Consequently, voter turnout across Canada has declined significantly over the last 20 years; it now hovers at around 60% of eligible voters. This number is dramatically lower among young voters, sparking numerous campaigns to get out the youth vote in Canada and to engage young people in politics.
Not wanting to add to the cacophony of articles imploring students to exercise their democratic right to vote on October 19, I would much rather appeal to students who are already engaged and ready to take their involvement one step further.
Here are some ways to get involved:
1. Join a UofT club
The easiest way to get involved on campus is through the local youth branch of the party you support. The Liberal Party of Canada, the NDP, and the Conservative Party of Canada all have organizations here at UofT, and all of them are going to be heavily involved in this year’s election. Admittedly, this course of action may be too bureaucratic for some, so it’s important to note that there are plenty of other opportunities for young people to get directly involved in the political process.
2. Volunteer for a party
Another option is to get involved directly with the political party of your choosing. Since this election is anticipated to be extremely close, the major parties will be in need of volunteers from across the country to help mobilize their national campaigns. All parties have clearly marked “volunteer” buttons displayed on their websites, leading you to a page where you enter your contact information.
3. Volunteer in your riding
One last option is to get involved with a campaign in a specific riding that is important to you. In general, local campaigns have limited staff and rely on a small, core group of volunteers to help get their candidate elected. This being the case, volunteering with a local campaign can make a tangible difference in a candidate’s electoral fortunes. Some of the ridings within a short distance of campus that you may want to get involved with are: University-Rosedale, Toronto Centre, Spadina-Fort York, Davenport, Toronto-St. Paul’s, and Eglinton-Lawrence.
So there you have it—three different and easy ways for students to get involved in the 2015 federal election. Getting involved in a political campaign over the summer has been one of the most rewarding decisions I’ve ever made; it’s allowed me to meet a ton of super-cool people and also to feel like I’m making a difference.
LP Veilleux has spent the summer volunteering for Eglinton-Lawrence Liberal candidate Marco Mendicino.
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