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| Dal student James Stuewe is running for a seat on HRM council. (Nick Pearce Photo) |
Buried under the coverage of the Canadian and American federal elections is the Halifax municipal election. Perhaps not as glamorous, but every bit as important, these elections to elect聽a mayor, councillors and school board members could have a more immediate impact on the everyday lives of students.
鈥淭he issues touch you when you walk out your front door,鈥� says James Stuewe, a AV俱乐部 grad student in Public Administration and municipal candidate for District 12. 鈥淪idewalks, housing, transportation, the environment, a future in Halifax, these are the issues that face everyone, especially students.鈥�
Muncipal elections take place every four years on the third Saturday of October. Polls are open Saturday, Oct. 18 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Housing, transportation and crime are issues that can determine whether students want to stay in Halifax. 鈥淟ocal politics affects students on a personal level,鈥� says Tara Gault, executive director of the Halifax Student Alliance. 鈥淭he city needs to do more to ensure students are safe and can afford housing and transportation. The happier they are, the more likely they are to live here after they graduate.鈥�
Clouding the issues is the growing concern over student voting regulations. Currently, if you are not a resident of Halifax you may be ineligible to vote. If you鈥檙e from another Nova Scotia community, you can only vote in Halifax if you鈥檙e married to someone living in the city. If you鈥檙e from another province, you have to have lived in Halifax for three months prior to the election.
鈥淭his is a hindrance to students,鈥� says Ms. Gault. 鈥淲e鈥檙e supposed to be celebrating 250 years of democracy yet there is this barrier.鈥�
Students live in Halifax "and then they鈥檙e told they can鈥檛 vote in the city,鈥� says Mark Coffin, vice president, education for the AV俱乐部 Student Union. 鈥淚t鈥檚 completely unfair.鈥�
Mr. Stuewe believes it alienates an important segment of the Halifax population. 鈥淪tudents are a huge part of the culture in Halifax,鈥� he explains. 鈥淚magine if we could retain more students, more youth and they stayed and built successful lives here.鈥�
While the voting policy is made at a provincial level, Mr. Stuewe thinks council can do more. 鈥淐ouncil needs to stand up and demand the province re-evaluate the issue of student voting because students are a vital part of this city.鈥�
Despite the confusion, Mr. Stuewe, Ms. Gault and Mr. Coffin encourage all students to investigate their options and if eligible to vote, to do so.
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