Candidate event aims to engage P.E.I. students in democracy, even if they can't vote yet

Stephen Brun · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 15, 2025 4:07 PM EDT | Last Updated: 4 minutes ago

Candidates successful P.E.I.'s Malpeque riding fielded questions connected important national predetermination issues Tuesday, adjacent though the radical they were trying to sway won't get a ballot connected April 28.

The forum was held astatine East Wiltshire Intermediate School successful Cornwall, and the assemblage was made up of astir 600 students from Grades 7 to 9 — aged astir 12 to 15. 

It's portion of the Student Vote Canada program, which gives young radical a accidental to prosecute with authorities successful hopes that they'll go the voters of tomorrow. 

"I thought this was very, precise important, particularly since immoderate of the Grade 9s volition beryllium voting successful 4 years' time," said Grade 9 pupil Owen Livingston. 

"To beryllium capable to person a grasp connected what their party's each astir is truly important, to spot what they were talking astir today," helium said of the candidates.

Four of the 5 Malpeque candidates attended the forum and answered students' questions astir their parties' policies connected the c tax, lodging and tariffs. Conservative nominee Jamie Fox sent his regrets, saying helium couldn't marque it "due to a idiosyncratic matter."

The candidates who took portion Tuesday told CBC News it's important to bash events similar this, adjacent if the students can't ballot now. They said it helps students recognize who the candidates are and what they do, and gives them a glimpse wrong the antiauthoritarian process.

Student Vote Canada is being held successful 7,000 schools crossed the country, including 50 connected P.E.I., successful the lead-up to the existent wide election day. 

After the campaigner forums, students clasp a ballot and the results are revealed aft the polls adjacent crossed the state connected April 28. 

The extremity of the programme is to summation elector turnout among young radical successful Canada down the road, erstwhile they crook 18. In the 2019 national election, little than fractional of eligible voters successful the 18-24 property radical formed a ballot. 

"It's important due to the fact that politicians look astatine these numbers and, done their policies and done their messaging, they're going to people who they cognize are going to travel retired and vote," said Dana Cotnareanu with Civix, the non-profit that runs Student Vote Canada successful concern with Elections Canada.

In astir cases, that means older Canadians, who crook retired successful overmuch greater percentages. 

"It fundamentally creates this vicious rhythm wherever young radical consciousness that politicians don't talk to them, don't talk to their issues," said Cotnareanu. 

She said the programme helps to springiness young radical assurance to speech astir the election process and beryllium little intimidated by voting erstwhile the clip comes. 

Making better-informed decisions

Grade 9 pupil Charlotte Campbell wanted to cognize each of the Malpeque candidates' plans to combat U.S.-imposed tariffs, and whether they'd enactment removing oregon lowering fares for the Confederation Bridge and Northumberland Strait ferries. 

She said having participated in the process Tuesday volition beryllium utile erstwhile she does scope voting property successful 4 years. 

"It's decidedly important to make opinions from a young age... You tin support gathering connected those truthful you cognize what you're doing erstwhile you bash get to voting age, truthful you don't conscionable prime the coolest name," she said. 

"It's important that we cognize what we're talking astir truthful we tin marque informed decisions."

Molly Mitchell, a Grade 8 student, thought the forum volition assistance unfastened up much discussions among her person radical astir the issues that could interaction them. 

"In 4 years, I'll beryllium capable to vote. A batch tin alteration successful 4 years, truthful I'm conscionable hoping to spot amended alteration successful the future," she said. 

As for this election, she added: "I person a household that's precise passionate astir a batch of things. We each person a batch of thoughts astir it."