As the 2024 B.C. election approaches on Oct. 19, the Omega asked students at Thompson Rivers University about the key issues that matter the most to them, whether they plan on engaging with the electoral process and the changes they would like to see within the B.C. provincial government. Here is what students had to say.
Omega: What issues are most important to you in this election?
Helen Pratt (HP)- “Housing and jobs because there are a lot of homeless people right now, and there is a housing crisis. There is not a lot of space, and people are struggling with finances and jobs right now. There are not enough jobs to go around.”
Eric Maslen (EM)- “The current crisis in our healthcare system and the government’s ongoing efforts with the opioid crisis.”
Evan Rhode (ER)- “I agree with that. I would also add that access to housing in B.C. is a big issue.”
Danika Schultz (DS)- “Healthcare and affordability for people around the province for housing and food like basic needs.”
Levi Escobar (LE)- “The cost of living crisis and education. Especially rent and housing costs; grocery prices; and international [students’] tuition.”
Omega: Do you plan to vote in the upcoming election? Why or why not?
EM- “I plan to vote—[It’s my] civic duty.”
DS- “Probably not because l don’t know much about the people running for elections.”
LE- “I will be voting in this election because I don’t believe the BC Conservatives care about students at TRU due to their consistent absence on campus, and I don’t support their plan to defund university programs or to remove rental protections.”
Omega: What changes would you like to see in the province’s government?
HP- “I would like to see more diversity and also more representation of people with disabilities and people that are of a lower social and income status to participate in the government. In the city council, there are a lot of older people; it would be nice if there were more younger people involved as well. I don’t feel like there are enough young people involved within the city council.”
EM- “I would like to see electoral reform like switching to a proportional representation.”
ER- “Maybe more student tuition and debt relief for students, of course. More affordable housing and more access to healthcare for people with substance issues and mental health issues and more access to housing and for them to get the help they need.”
DS- “I don’t really know much about the provincial government.”
LE- “I would like to see the provincial government take real steps to reduce or at least cap international student’s tuition province-wide; do more to protect international students from housing fraud and unfair market practices by predatory landlords; do more to defend our food security by defending the local & provincial agricultural sector, especially due to the fall of the B.C. Tree Fruits Cooperative; reduce the provincial voting age to 16, and give permanent residents the right to vote.”
What issues are important to you? If you’d like to have your thoughts heard, send an e-mail to editor@theomega.news with the subject line “Letter to the editor.”