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WHY YOUR VOTE MATTERS
MORE THAN EVER
Maryam Monsef, Canada’s Minister of
International Development and Minister
for Women and Gender Equality, wants to
remind you that you hold the power.
Carbon tax All major parties agree that we need to
do something to tackle climate change. But the fed-
eral carbon tax, also called a “price on pollution,” which
aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by charging
a fee per amount of carbon-based emissions released,
is divisive. The Liberals say it ’s the most efficient way to
meet carbon-emission goals and incentivize cleaner
alternatives, the NDP and the Green Part y say that
the levy isn’t doing enough to curb emissions and the
Conservatives want to scrap it entirely in favour of their
own plan, which is focused on green technologies.
Cost of living Tried to buy a house lately? Or find
somewhere to rent? Or get your kid into daycare?
It is—and we can’t stress this enough—expensive.
Expect to hear a lot of talk about affordabilit y and
helping the middle class.
Universal pharmacare Canada is the only country
in the world that offers universal health care (i.e., doctor
and hospital visits you don’t need to bring your credit
card to pay for) without universal drug coverage. We
pay the third-highest prices in the world for prescription
drugs, and one in five Canadians are either without
drug coverage or have some sort of barrier (like high
co-pays and deductibles) to coverage. Universal
pharmacare would address this by providing prescrip-
tion-drug access to all Canadians.
Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion Originally
built in 1953, and still operating today, this pipeline
carries crude oil bet ween Edmonton and Burnaby, B.C.
The pipeline is currently being “twinned”—essentially,
a second pipeline is being installed to run alongside the
original, but some Indigenous communities and environ-
mental activists, among others, oppose its construction.
24 Sussex Drive The official residence of the prime
minister, built in 1867, needs serious and essential repairs
to the tune of $34.5 million. (Justin Trudeau did not
move in when he was elected; he lives in Rideau Hall.)
Politicians are reluctant to spend taxpayers’ money on
improving something they could be seen to benefit
from, but the state of the crumbling house is somewhat
embarrassing when compared to the residences of
other world leaders. VICTORIA DIPLACIDO
SHOP FOR GOOD
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HOT TOPICS
A glossary of some of the most conflict-ridden issues you’ll come across in this election cycle.
IN THE 2015 federal election, a record number of
Canadian women voted, and as a result, our issues
have taken centre stage.
As the Minister for Women and Gender
Equality, serving in Canada’s first gender-balanced
Cabinet, I’ve seen first-hand that things get better
for women when they actively participate in our
democracy. In fact, as things get better for women,
they get better for everyone: In the next decade,
Canada’s economy could grow by $150 billion
merely by seeing women participate, as equals, in
every sector of the economy.
As we debate women’s issues in this upcoming
federal election, let’s remember that we’re on the
verge of rea l equa l it y a nd rea l econom ic pros p er it y.
To achieve these goals, Canadian women must get
out and vote. We must continue to exercise our
power and ensure that the federal government is
focused on our agenda.
When women vote, smart governments listen.
That is the power of our voice.
72%
The percentage of young
people who said they
discussed politics before
the last federal election,
making youth the most
politically engaged
generation in the country.
SOURCE: THE SAMARA CENTRE FOR DEMOCRACY