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Nikalas Kryzanowski, News Editor and Lisa Bellano, Associate News Editor

news@theotherpress.ca associate@theotherpress.ca

 

News

 

 

Douglas campuses situated in party strongholds
Apathy among student voters a common theme

  

. Nikalas

anowski
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Cae, are usually a haven of first-time, barely
18, fresh out of high school, ready, willing and eager-
to-perform-their-democratic-duty-for-the-nation-at-
any-cost-whatsoever voters because they know the
importance of issues they face as young Canadians.

Does that sound like you? No? How about you?
No? Come on, you? Yes? You? Great! It turns out that
a mere one in three people between the ages of 18-21
generally bother to vote.

According to Elections Canada, studies have
shown that young people don’t vote because they lack
interest in politics and that they are, overall, too busy
with work and school. In fact, the study suggested that
young people were the busiest demographic of the
study —or so they claimed.

But if you do manage to find a few minutes in
your day and you are interested in voting, here is
a breadown of the ridings in which both the New
Westminster campus and the David Lam campus are
situated. The districts that both schools are in have

been shuffled around since 2003. .

New Westminster Campus

New Westminster-Coquitlam

Created: 2000

Current MP: Dawn Black, NDP

Number of Eligible Voters: 77,916

This riding was created in 2000, from a previous
district that included parts of Burnaby and parts of
Coquitlam. Currently, the Member of Parliament

is Dawn Black of the NDP who defeated the
Conservative competitor by 3,000 votes. The NDP
wrestled the riding away from the Conservatives and
are hoping to hold onto it in October. NDP MP Dawn
Black has some advice for new students: “Young
people face a number of issues, including university
tuition costs and student loans. I encourage all first-
time voters who wish to vote to get in touch with their
MPs to learn more about the issues.”

David Lam Campus

Port Moody-Westwood-Port Coquitlam

Created: 1987 (as Port Moody-Coquitlam-Port
Coquitlam)

Current MP: James’ Moore, Conservative

Number of Eligible Voters: 80,027

Port Moody-Westwood-Port Coquitlam is another
riding retooled in the early 2000s; David Lam is
located right in the middle. This is a Conservative
stronghold as MP James Moore has held the riding
since 2000 even under the old Canadian Alliance
banner which morphed into the Conservative party
that we know today. The last non-Conservative to hold
the riding was Lou Sekora of the Liberals who won a

by-election in the riding back in 1998.

Also, here is a tip: if it seems like you’re too busy
to vote because you have to work, just remember—if
you’re employed within your voting district, then
your employer is legally obligated to give you three
consecutive hours off on Election Day without
deducting your pay. So you have no reason not to go
down to the polling station to put your pinecone into
the box

 
  
  
  
 
  
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 

 

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( ae to a new country for the first time to study and having limited experience of the culture and language can be both a daunting and exhilarating challenge for
anyone. There is the prospect of loneliness to contend with which might be exacerbated by the language barrier, but ESL students can rest assured that there is plenty to do
and lots of people to meet from many different languages and cultures. They only need to look no further than campus for events and activities to get involved in.

One of these activities is through Club ESL, a company that provides tours specifically geared towards ESL students. They provide both day trips and overnight
trips to Victoria, Seattle and even longer tours through the Rocky Mountains with the goal of giving students a “true Canadian experience” and allowing them to practice

English and meet new people.

The DSU has also been active in easing the transitions by holding a large number of pub nights and barbecues at the DSU building to welcome all students back to
school in a social setting. They also hold an annual barbeque for Quebecois students from the “Explore” program Douglas plays host to every year.

 

Correction!

In our September 2" issue we referred to Blaine Jensen as an employee of the DSU (“You can opt out of the Activity & Intramural Fee”); this is not the case. He is
actually the Vice President of Educational Services at Douglas College. The Other Press regrets the error.

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