Some newcomers may not be able to tick a legal election ballot yet — but the Association for New Canadians is making sure students at its language school get experience preparing for the real thing.
Last week, the ANC held its mock provincial election to educate students on the province’s electoral system and its election issues.
For Hikmat and Bashar, a father-son duo from Iraq, the ANC’s mock election marked their first time voting.
Hikmat told CBC News he never thought he would get the chance to vote, let alone with his son. He’s only been in Canada for three months.
“I think it is a very wonderful life here because I can vote freely, talk freely, and see your face. I think it’s wonderful,” he said. “This is my first time in my whole life voting.”
Bashar enjoyed the experience.
Hikmat, a newcomer from Iraq and student at the Association for New Canadian’s Language School voted for the first time ever in the schools mock election. (Mike Simms/CBC)
“This is my first time voting, and this type of democracy is beautiful because I never voted before in my home country,” he said.
Others have voted before, but the experience was very different. In some countries, the government is corrupt or under a dictatorship.
“I’m just impressed by how people are freely voting differently when I compare my country, where I am coming from. People don’t vote. They can’t express themself,” Dyna, a newcomer from Congo, told CBC News.
Louis from Haiti noticed the organization it takes to hold a free and fair election.
“I like this because everything is organized, everything is prepared. I think that it’s very good here too,” he said.
Election issues
A common thread among the ANC students was the issues they feel are important — health care, lack of housing, and taxes.
“We have big problems in Newfoundland and Labrador about housing,” said Mahasin, a newcomer from Sudan.
For years, residents across the province have been struggling against a shortage of affordable housing and the soaring cost of rent.
More than 100 Ukrainian refugees lived at the Holiday Inn in St. John’s after arriving in 2022. (Paul Daly/CBC) (Paul Daly/CBC)
The province tried to address the housing shortage for some Ukrainian refugees by providing them rooms at the Holiday Inn hotel in St. John’s.
Currently, all three political parties have promised to deal with the province’s housing crisis by building more affordable housing, if elected.
‘More doctors’
N.L.’s health care crisis is a major concern for voters in this year’s provincial election, and Bashar said the province needs more doctors.
“We need health care. We need dental care, we need vision care,” he said.
The Liberals, PC’s, and NDP have announced several commitments to address the shortage of doctors and health-care professionals, while promising to enhance services.
‘Lower taxes’
Bashar’s father, Hikmat, would like to see government lower the cost of living and taxes.
“It’s a better life if they have health care and a bit lower cost of the fuel and electricity,” he said.
Shikeba, a newcomer from Afghanistan, is feeling the pressure of the province’s high cost of living.
“I have one son and of course, I want less tax because I am not working and I don’t have a job that is hard for me to pay tax on everything,” she said.
A customer stands at a self checkout counter in a new “small format” No Frills grocery store that the grocery chain is testing, in Toronto. (The Canadian Press)
The Liberals have promised not to implement any new taxes if re-elected. They have also promised to make their tax reduction on gasoline and diesel permanent and keep the home heating supplement program.
The PCs are promising to permanently cut the provincial gas tax and review all taxes and fees to see what can be cut or reduced.
Meanwhile, the NDP has promised to remove HST on children’s essentials like clothing, shoes, and car seats, along with relief for extracurricular-related needs like swimsuits, sports jerseys, and dance clothing.
’Prepare the next generation’
Dyna wants to see the province support its young people.
“Health care, housing, and the youth, because we need to prepare the next generation,” she said.
Dyna is a student at the ANC’s language school from Congo. She wants to see the province support its youth. (Mike Simms/CBC)
All parties have committed to investments in education, with the Liberals promising to build new schools in Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s, St. John’s, Paradise, and Cartwright; expanded school lunch programs; and free school supplies for students in Kindergarten to grade six.
The PCs have committed to paid student work terms for students in health care, social, and education services in the provincial government. It also wants to bring in a tuition refund program to reimburse tuition through the income tax system.
The NDP is promising to restore Memorial University’s tuition freeze to its pre-2022 levels and expand seats in high-demand trades.
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