We are in the midst of a provincial election that will decide the direction of British Columbia for the next few years. Now, most youth will be unable to vote in this election, but many of us will be able to vote in the next one.
Any party that wishes to gain long-term power in B.C.B次元官网网址檚 legislature should take the concerns of young people very seriously, as first-time voters donB次元官网网址檛 have party loyalty like a lifelong partisan might. If we feel that our voices are being heard from the outset, we are more likely to keep you in power when election day rolls around once more.
IB次元官网网址檓 certainly not a statistician or a political advisor, but I am a civic-minded young person. And as a young person, IB次元官网网址檇 like to talk about a few of the things that are and will be important to us, things the government should know if they want to keep (or gain) the votes of future electors.
Firstly, there is education. Public schools in British Columbia are struggling with a concerning lack of funding. Schools are overcrowded, underfunded, and forced into making harmful budget cuts. Schools across the province have been cutting music, arts, and band programs, even though these programs can be a lifeline for many kids. And the transit options are deplorable, with many students (including myself) forced to take public transit because the school bus routes arenB次元官网网址檛 close enough to their homes.
Also on the chopping block? Mental-health supports and peer-counseling programs, as well as free breakfast programs. This kind of thing is infuriating, and all it does is ensure that more kids will fall through the cracks, because their resources are simply too strained. For a government trying to gain the youth vote, this would be an excellent place to start.
And what about elder care? IB次元官网网址檇 like care for disadvantaged seniors or those with complex care needs to be more accessible to those who need it. I want my grandparents to have access to safe and compassionate care if they ever should need it. A few months ago a grandparent of mine spent days in a hospital corridor struck with a debilitating illness. The hospital workers were heroes and saints, but they were and still are tragically underfunded and overworked. We can do better, and we absolutely should.
Mental-health care is something else sorely needed by the youth of today. Owing to a complex mix of factors including the COVID-19 pandemic and rise of social media, young people nowadays are more anxious, depressed, and have a lower overall mental health quality. Simply put: young people are struggling severely. ThereB次元官网网址檚 been a rise in social isolation, self-harm behaviours, and suicidal ideation amongst adolescents. Youth are struggling, and we need help. We need a compassionate government that values the mental health of their youngest citizens.
And IB次元官网网址檇 be remiss not to mention our impending climate doom. We want B次元官网网址� no, we demand B次元官网网址� action now on our cratering climate. Fast and decisive movement is what British Columbians need in an increasingly uncertain world. Climate anxiety consistently ranks at the very top of young peopleB次元官网网址檚 concerns, as we will have to bear the weight of inaction foisted upon us by previous generations. If youB次元官网网址檙e around my age, you can expect to live another 60 years or so in a burning, flooded, polluted world. That would stress anyone out. This is why we cannot afford to debate this any longer. A government that truly cares about its young people will commit to aggressively combatting the climate crisis now, before it truly does become too late.
And whatB次元官网网址檚 the deal with anti-LGBTQ+ hatred? My generation is growing up in a world where queer people are seen, heard, and represented in a way that wasnB次元官网网址檛 possible in our parentsB次元官网网址� time. More than at any other time in recent history, people of all sexualities and gender identities are able to live their lives truly and happily. As a whole, this generation is the most queer-positive ever, and I think thatB次元官网网址檚 something of which we should be extraordinarily proud.
But the fight is not over by any means. There are some who want to roll back the rights of an already disadvantaged community in order to score some political points with misinformed troglodytes. Using a 14-year-old transgender kid as a political punching bag is about as low as one can possibly get. Young voters will not and should not let that slide. There is no place for mindless hatred in the 21st century B次元官网网址� or at least there shouldnB次元官网网址檛 be.
Whew, B.C.B次元官网网址檚 next government sure has its work cut out for it, doesnB次元官网网址檛 it? The good people of this province will elect whomever they see fit to tackle these issues and many more. But just remember that the young people of B.C. will have our say eventually, and weB次元官网网址檒l be watching. Because if our concerns arenB次元官网网址檛 being met now, weB次元官网网址檒l use our newfound voting power in the next election to make sure that they are.
Gabriel Mackintosh is a student on the West Shore.
