MOUNTAIN YOUTH EYE FIRST TIME AT BALLOT BOX

RISING GASOLINE PRICES AND WAIT TIME FOR DRIVER'S LICENCE TESTING AMONG THEIR ISSUES

Cordell Wilson admits he hasn't given the upcoming provincial election much thought, but that's going to change.

"It's nice to give my input," said the 19-year-old first-time voter.

Wilson said a key issue for him is the long wait to get a G2 driver's licence road test.

"It's like a two-year wait," said the east Mountain resident, who is saving up for driver's school and is looking forward to hearing what the parties will do to speed up the testing process.

Sebastian Spagnuolo said he's looking forward to casting a ballot for the first time.

"I feel like it's our first chance to take all the knowledge we have since we were born for 18 years

and kind of use it toward our future," said the 18year-old St. Thomas More student.

Spagnuolo said that when candidates come calling, he will be asking

them about a couple of issues.

"Definitely the price of gas because I drive and the incline (rising prices) of the housing market in Hamilton," he said.

"I think it's important that the youth does have a say in the future because we are the future as we get older," said 19-year-old Joshua Messina, another More student and firsttime voter.

Messina said he wants to hear what the parties plan to do about the rising cost of gasoline and speeding up the loosening of COVID-19-related restrictions.

The rising price of gasoline is also an issue for first-time voter Angelo Longo.

"Two dollars a litre, that's outrageous," said the 18-year-old More student.

Longo said he's looking forward to visiting a polling station in the coming weeks. "It's going to be an experience," he said. "I'm excited to go in there and make my vote count."

Voting information can be found at www.elections.on.ca.