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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 a mayor, councillors and school board members could have a more immediate impact on the everyday lives of students.
“The issues touch you when you walk out your front door,” says James Stuewe, a HÂţ» grad student in Public Administration and municipal candidate for District 12. “Sidewalks, housing, transportation, the environment, a future in Halifax, these are the issues that face everyone, especially students.”
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. “Local politics affects students on a personal level,” says Tara Gault, executive director of the Halifax Student Alliance. “The 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.”
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’re from another Nova Scotia community, you can only vote in Halifax if you’re married to someone living in the city. If you’re from another province, you have to have lived in Halifax for three months prior to the election.
“This is a hindrance to students,” says Ms. Gault. “We’re supposed to be celebrating 250 years of democracy yet there is this barrier.”
Students live in Halifax "and then they’re told they can’t vote in the city,” says Mark Coffin, vice president, education for the HÂţ» Student Union. “It’s completely unfair.”
Mr. Stuewe believes it alienates an important segment of the Halifax population. “Students are a huge part of the culture in Halifax,” he explains. “Imagine if we could retain more students, more youth and they stayed and built successful lives here.”
While the voting policy is made at a provincial level, Mr. Stuewe thinks council can do more. “Council needs to stand up and demand the province re-evaluate the issue of student voting because students are a vital part of this city.”
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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