Federal Halifax candidates square off over student issues
Posted Sep 29, 2015 05:13:42 AM.
Last Updated Sep 29, 2015 07:10:03 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
HALIFAX – Federal candidates in the riding of Halifax faced off in a debate at the Dalhousie Student Union building on Monday night, where they discussed everything from rape culture to rising tuition rates.
Tuition, debt and job security came up most during the debate, co-hosted by the student union and Nova Scotia chapter of the Canadian Federation of Students.
Liberal Andy Fillmore, the NDP’s Megan Leslie, Conservative Irvine Carvery, Green Party candidate Thomas Trappenberg and Marxist-Leninist candidate Allan Bezanson all took part in the debate.
Students said they didn’t really get the specific answers they were looking for from candidates, but they were intrigued by Trappenberg’s plan to phase out tuition, replace loans with a grant system and forgive debt over $10,000.
Dalhousie Student Union president Dan Nicholson said Monday’s debate is part of a concerted effort to get more young people filling out their ballot on Oct. 19, after only 40 per cent punched one in the 2011 federal election.
“If we want to see real change or if we want to see things improve at all, we do need to exercise that power, so that’s our job at the student union is to empower students,” Nicholson said.
“We’re really trying to make sure students are really invested in the world of federal politics instead of us just telling them this is important. This is how we can see change and get things done.”
The student union is hosting an advanced poll for students in their building on Oct. 6, 7, and 8.
