Dan Ruimy and investing in the future

» A look at local candidates and what they believe is important to youth voters

Jordan Lamothe Contributor

he federal election is less

than one month away, and the crunch is on us to decide which party we want to vote for—but have we taken the time to meet our local candidates? Last week, I conducted a phone interview with the Maple Ridge/ Pitt Meadows NDP candidate Bob D’Eith. This week, I’m meeting the Liberal candidate, Dan Ruimy, at his coffee shop, Bean Around Books, for a quick interview to discuss what sets him apart as a candidate and the importance of voting, especially for young voters.

When I first stepped into Dan’s coffee shop, the denizens were happy to inform me of the “eclectic” patronage that

Dan Ruimy

comes in. “This is where I get : my passion from—the people,” : Ruimy told me.

Ruimy believes that it is

: encourage dialogues between

: people of various demographics. : “TIf] you've come to our events;

: you've seen how a 16-year-old

: interacts with an 87-year-old.

: That’s amazing to see.” He

: boasts. “We need more of that.”

When asked his motivation

for running, Ruimy said: “I just : think I can do better.”

: clear that is a huge issue.” He : is proud of the Liberal Party’s

: environmental policy, which

: was evident when he told me, : “We have incentives for new : technologies not based on fossil

fuels.”

Ruimy is also very adamant

: on setting youth up for success. : Drawing on his experience

: asa foster parent, he made a

: good point when he asked me,

: “Someone who has unfortunate Education was the first issue :

Ruimy brought up when asked

: what issues are most important

: to youth. Are we going to be able : to apply our credentials to the

: workforce? Are we going to be

: stuck with 20 years of student

: loans? The environment was

: another big one. “Watching

: this young generation as they

: embrace recycling, as they

: important for MPs to be involved : embrace the environment: it's

: in their communities, which he : does by hosting roundtables to

: events in their lives—how do we : expect them, at 18, to become a

: productive citizen? That doesn’t

: set them up for success; that sets : them up for failure. That doesn’t : make sense.” He plans to ensure

: all citizens are provided with the : : Necessary resources to succeed. : In Ruimy’s eyes, if we don’t invest : : now in our citizens, our youth, : : and our country, then we are

: “damaging our own future.”

He also plans to make sure

: his party leader stays true to the

: Liberal platform, “IfTrudeau is in : Ottawa, I will fight to make sure : he upholds every commitment

: he made.” He encourages voters

: to pay attention to the promises

: the party leaders are making,

: and whether or not they are

: obtainable. Additionally, he says

: it is important to learn each

: party’s platform, because “at that : point, whatever decision [voters]

: make is an invested decision.”

Ruimy believes that the

government should be open : with the people, and hold itself : toa high moral standard. “It’s

not about what’s right for the

: election or the media, but what

is the right thing to do.” “We can do better,” he

: told me. “We have to live to

: our ideals... The parties set the : philosophies. We have to live to : those philosophies.”

Listed: 10 things to pair with

your pumpkin spice latte

Brittney MacDonald Life & Style Editor

[I fall, and we all know what that means! It’s time for everyone's favourite seasonal beverage, and no, I’m not talking about shamrock shakes. Pumpkin spice lattes are back! I mean, honestly, this little bundle of warm, delicious, cinnamon-y delight is responsible for 95 per cent of anyone’s autumn excitement. Getting that first cup has become so monumental in celebrating the changing of seasons that it warrants its own globally understood acronym. But what can you pair with your PSL to make it extra special this year?

Your face! Nothing beats a classic.

2. Knitwear. It’s hard to enjoy anything if youre not cuddly.

3. A dyslexic barista. I don’t know who Burt Knee is, but sure, I'll take his coffee.

4. Anything remotely pumpkin flavoured. What goes better with pumpkin? MORE PUMPKIN!

10.

Encroaching student loan debt. Artificially flavoured, overpriced sugar sludge doesn’t pay for itself.

An expanding waistline. Extra whip cream and 400 more calories in mine, please!

A growing sense of entitlement. Nothing raises your expectations like sitting ina Starbucks and ranting to your best friend about the total loser Tinder set you up with.

Homework. All that caffeine will help when you realize all your professors decided

to synch their due dates for maximum carnage.

A selfie. If you get a PSL but don’t tweet about it, did it really happen?

Another pumpkin spice latte. Because really, are you going to reduce the joy of fall to a single cup?

Illustration by Ed Appleby

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