THUNDER BAY -- Lakehead University Student Union's president believes new legislation is attempting to deter young people from voting but he's determined to bring student issues to the forefront this fall.
Roman Jakubowski accused the federal government and Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper of engaging in voter suppression through the new Fair Elections Act. The act disallowed the use of voter registration cards as valid identification. Voters will need to present photo identification as well as proof of address.
Jakubowski pointed out many students attending post-secondary institutions away from home either don't have driver's licenses or don't change their addresses on their license, as their accommodations may change year-to-year.
"Mr. Harper's Unfair Elections Act is a terrible piece of legislation but it does prove one important thing: The Harper Conservatives are terrified of students. It's actually kind of flattering," he said.
"People tend to think young people can't change the course of elections, but some Conservative number cruncher obviously believes otherwise."
LUSU has issued itself a challenge of increasing voter turnout among students from an estimated 3,000 in 2011 to 4,000 on Oct. 19.
The union intends to run radio advertising and host guest speakers to not only inform students about voting documentation but mobilize them to vote their conscience on tuition rates, fighting systemic inequality and environmental issues.
"There are lots of documentation options available. We're going to make sure people know what those are," Jakubowski said.
"We're also going to make sure we're campaigning on student issues and we're going to make sure politicians -- candidates in these ridings -- are talking about student issues. We're going to make sure they show up, make sure they speak with students, hear from students what student priorities are and we're going to make sure we're campaigning, just like they are to make our issues front and centre."
Under the provincial Liberals, Jakubowski added, Ontario tuition rates have increased at 600 per cent of the rate of inflation since 2003 to become the highest in Canada.
Suggesting parties ought to court the votes of the nearly two-thirds of young people across Canada who didn't cast a ballot in the 2011 election, the union intends to make federal transfers to Ontario for post-secondary education a platform issue in the local campaign.
"If there's no politician saying we need more money for education, I don't know why students would bother voting for them in the first place."
