This federal election, the Nanaimo News Bulletin is getting voters involved in our campaign coverage like never before. We’ve sought out average Nanaimo citizens, asked them a little about themselves and their politics, delved into the key issue(s) for them personally, and then taken that issue to the candidates for a direct response. We’ll be posting all these features online, at www.nanaimobulletin.com, and we invite both other voters and candidates themselves to join the conversation through our Disqus online commenting feature. From there, it’s up to you, the voters, to decide on May 2.
Before he was old enough to vote, Ryan Rumo was involved in politics.
The Nanaimo-Cowichan voter began his participation in politics as a teenager in Ontario, where he was a member of the provincial Conservative Party.
Rumo’s father helped run campaigns for provincial and federal Conservative candidates in Scarborough, Ont., in the past decade. That’s where his initial loyalties were drawn.
“When I was young and naive, I was just getting involved in politics to understand the system,” Rumo said. “My values have changed over the years.”
After his parents retired to the West Coast, Rumo, 27, eventually followed, returning to school last year to pursue a business degree in marketing from Vancouver Island University.
He currently works for a big box retailer in the north end, but lives close to school in Harewood.
Education and personal experience led Rumo to change his views and he now aligns himself more with the left of the political spectrum.
“My values are more defined,” he said. “When I was younger, I had no clue.
“This year I think I might vote NDP. I have to read more on it.”
From what he’s read, the New Democrats seem to care more about the humanities – support for education, early learning and employment.
“That works for me – they’re looking out for my best interests,” Rumo said.
Education is one of the biggest election issues for him and he points to Norway as an example of how socialism can work.
“Socialism could succeed in Canada if we weren’t so afraid,” Rumo said.
He also cites employment and job retention, as well as government accountability, as his other key issues.
Voter turnout has fallen to just over 60 per cent, which Rumo said he believes is a cause of the mockery parties have made of the election system in Ottawa for their failure to work together and form a stable government.
He would also like to see change from the current first past the post system to one that provided more proportional representation, something along the lines of the single-transferable vote that B.C. considered in the last provincial election.
Rumo hopes that changes to government accountability will see more people participate in the system. He cites the issue of usage billing for Internet access, which the federal government promised to investigate prior to the election, as an example of change that can happen when Canadians participate in the discussion.
“In Canada we don’t do too much revolting,” he said. “If we want to, we can change things really fast.”
Ryan’s question to the candidates: What would you do to support students pursuing post-secondary education?
Jean Crowder, NDP
I keep hearing from business owners and others in our riding that education needs to be a priority if we want to have a successful economy. So I am pleased that post-secondary education was a focus in our platform. New Democrats want to see $800 million transferred to the provinces and territories to be used only to directly lower tuition fees. We also want to see the Canada Student Grants program increased by $200 million a year to reduce the student loan debt burden. We can also reduce debt by raising the education tax credit to $5,760 per year.
John Koury, Conservative
The Conservatives created the Canada Student Grants Program and made scholarships and bursaries tax-free, introduced a tax credit for text books, and increased investments in the Canada Graduate Scholarships. Conservatives introduced greater flexibility in the repayment of student loans and will bring new policies including enhancing the Canada Student Loans Program; extend support for the Canada Youth Business Foundation; and economic recovery means jobs for students entering the job market.
Anne Marie Benoit, Green
The Green Party will give more money in bursaries, loans and grants to students. We’ll expand the eligibility for student loans, and cut back the lending rate. We’ll increase funding for student summer employment programs. We’ll help single moms on welfare to upgrade their education by topping up their income support while they are attending school or job training programs. And we’ll focus on making a post-secondary education available to those who have been shut out of the system – low-income, disabled, and aboriginal Canadians.
Brian Fillmore, Liberal
The Liberal Party’s Learning Passport proposes to offer up to $6,000 automatically to anybody wishing to pursue post-secondary education. Another feature of the program is forgiveness of a portion of student loan debt in trade for volunteer service. I would personally encourage much more support of apprenticeship programs.