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What you need to know about Canada’s federal election
by Mercades Deutscher, Staff Reporter

 

n October 19, Canada will be holding its 42nd
federal election. As responsible citizens,
it is our right and duty to vote and elect our
representatives. Here’s what you need to know to
vote on the big day!

How to vote

If this is your first time voting in a federal
(or any) election, you may not know where to
start. You should keep in mind the following
points:

Be sure that you have registered to vote
and are on the voters list prior to October 19.
You cannot simply walk into a polling station
on the day of the election. Register to vote in
advance at Elections.ca.

{¥ Know where to vote: you cannot walk into
just any polling station. Usually your polling
station will be the one closest to your home
address. You can confirm your polling station
at Elections.ca or at the website of your
municipality. If you have two addresses—

for example, a dorm—use the address you
consider home.

Bring your identification on voting

day. Acceptable ID includes one piece of
government issued photo ID, such as a driver’s
licence; or two pieces of secondary ID, one
with your name and one with your name and
address, such as bills, student IDs, or a cash
tender card; or, two documents with your
name and a friend who can attest to your
address by taking an oath. The friend must
have an address.

If you cannot vote on the day of the
election, be sure to vote on an advanced

voting date. Advanced polls
open on October 7 and close
on October 10.

The parties and their front-runners
You know how to vote, but still are unsure about
who to vote for. Here are four parties, their ideals, and
their leaders. Keep in mind that you will be voting for
their representative in your riding on the election day.

Conservative: Considered right of centre
on the political spectrum.

Leader: Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Platforms:

- Economic surplus.

- Strong national security.

- Expanding large businesses.

Liberal: Considered centre on the political
spectrum.

Leader: Justin Trudeau

Platforms:

- More tax breaks for the middle-class, and
fewer for the wealthy.

- An increase to the Canada Child Benefit plan.
- Increased transparency of the government.
- Reducing barriers to trade.

- New review processes of projects that may
pose a threat to the environment.

- Legalization of marijuana.

- Increasing the involvement of young people
in politics.

- Bringing back the long-form census.

- Reforming the senate.

New Democratic (NDP): Considered
left on the political spectrum.

Leader: Thomas Mulcair

Platforms:

- Rewarding small business.

- Increasing the national minimum wage to $15
per hour.

- Childcare for $15 per day.

- Fines for companies that produce a lot of
pollution.

- Returning the retirement age back to 65.

- Improvement to the current healthcare
system by increased funding.

- Abolishing the Senate.

Green: Considered left on the political
spectrum.

Leader: Elizabeth May

Platforms:

- Clean energy.

- Initiatives for small business.

- Public transportation.

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Liberal

+NDP