Students launch campaign to promote voting in municipal elections

TORONTO, Aug. 28, 2014 /CNW/ - Today, Ontario's largest student organization launched Generation Vote, a province-wide campaign to promote youth and student participation in the municipal elections taking place this October. The campaign also aims to raise awareness about municipal issues that effect youth and students.

"Municipal issues greatly impact the day to day lives of students and youth, but we're largely forgotten in municipal election campaigns," said Alastair Woods, Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario. "Whether it's being late to class because of unreliable bus service, or struggling to find childcare while you write an exam, municipal governments have a lot of power over students' lives – for better or worse."

The Generation Vote campaign calls on students and youth to pledge to vote in the municipal elections this fall and promotes five key issues students would like to see addressed in their communities. These include improved public transit, living wages, more affordable housing options, better access to childcare, and more support for city services such as parks, libraries and recreation centres.

"Generation Vote is designed to encourage students across Ontario to cast a ballot while ensuring student issues are election issues," said Woods. "On October 27, students across Ontario will demand that our issues are taken seriously by decision makers."

The Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario is the largest student organization in the province, representing over 350,000 college, undergraduate and graduate students from Windsor to Thunder Bay.

SOURCE: Canadian Federation of Students - Ontario

Alastair Woods, Chairperson: 416-925-3825 or [email protected]; Anna Goldfinch, National Executive Representative: 416-925-3825 or [email protected]