Community News

FIRST-TIME VOTERS SHARE WHAT ISSUES ARE TOP OF MIND

'TALK ISN'T JUST TALK, AND MY VOTE WON'T JUST BE MY VOTE.'

TARA LINDEMANN tlindemann@sachem.ca

Natalie Richards said she's been wanting to vote in the provincial election since she was 10 years old."I dreamed of voting, but I didn't feel burdened by the act until now," said the 19year-old Caledonia resident. "It's not one or two things to think about," she said. "I want to believe that my vote can fix everything."

Richards said her vote was initially tied into receiving proper health care. She said she was diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety at 14, and COVID exacerbated symptoms, opening the door wide to issues.

"I was diagnosed with OCD, Mothra-sized," she said. "Getting help before the pandemic was brutal for me and for my parents, but COVID ensured that everyone suffered from an already stupid mental health system.

"My vote starts there, because I can't get back to school until I'm well enough," she said. "And the sick deserve easy access to appropriate health care, all of us."

Ralf Oliviera and his family emigrated from Brazil six years ago, and since becoming Canadians last month, he, his wife and two teenage sons have been locked in continuous debate on the most important issues as the election approaches.

"I have two kids almost ready to vote, so there has been a great deal of politics at the dinner table," he said. "I'm a proud Pappa."

A year ago they moved to the outskirts of Binbrook, where he thinks urban sprawl and an aggressive provincial growth plan should be top of mind; his sons want green space protected.

"So we agree, but differently," said Oliviera.

His wife, Lissandra, said she is taking everything into account when she votes.

"We haven't been here long but watching good programs that help people (being) cut, and cut, and cut again," she said, mimicking scissors cutting paper. "I'm worried for the future, and my first vote may

be declining one."

Andrea Cookson had avoided voting for a while.

"I'm ashamed to say it, but I just didn't care enough then," she said. "I wasn't raised with it, and was more concerned about school and boys."

She and her husband moved to Haldimand three years ago, and since then, she says she has become political savvy, and said it was imperative to vote now that she had started a small family.

Cookson said she is concerned with protecting vulnerable populations like seniors and those with one or multiple disabilities. She said bettering health care and protecting space for inclusivity is imperative, and she intends on holding Haldimand-Norfolk's next MPP to account.

"So many people assume our rights will always be protected, and we are easily sold by heavily curated speeches, by charming people, but look at history in other once progressive countries that have gone bonkers," she said. "I have a daughter, and I need to make sure she will have a voice.

"Talk isn't just talk, and my vote won't just be my vote."

PROVINCIAL ELECTION

en-ca

2022-05-19T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-05-19T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://communitynews.pressreader.com/article/281492164924581

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