Throughout this election the youth-vote has become a topic of discussion. Triggered by an infamous Rick Mercer rant, thousands of students around the country have participated in 鈥渧ote mobs鈥� 鈥� voting at special booths approved by Elections Canada at the universities. 

In Canada, an average of only 36 per cent of youth between 18 and 24 vote. 

I fall into that category. I鈥檓 19, and this will be my first election as a voter. I鈥檓 excited to vote. And apparently, I鈥檓 one of the few youth in Canada who is. 

Many people say the youth of Canada don鈥檛 vote because the issues in the election don鈥檛 touch them, that we鈥檙e apathetic, that we鈥檙e lazy. 

Perhaps, they suggest, if voting was online, youth would vote because it鈥檚 easy. It would just take the touch of a button.

Recently, Williams Lake Secondary School, hosted an all-candidates debate for the grade 11-12 students from both high schools.

While some students there professed a sure dislike of politics, some others only attended because their teacher told them to, and there was the occasional student sleeping in the back, many students were actually engaged, asking questions. 

鈥淲hat are the economic policies of each party?鈥� One young man asked, 鈥淗ow does each party differ?鈥�

鈥淗ow do you plan to improve the health-care system?鈥� questioned another.

An upset third-generation rancher demanded to know 鈥淲hat will you do to help the ranches?鈥� 

I myself asked about university tuition and how each party planned to help those of us attending post-secondary education in the next few years. 

As the debate drew to a close, individual students could be found talking to each of the candidates, getting more information. Learning. So why aren鈥檛 all youth interested? I don鈥檛 know. 

And so, party platforms mostly ignore us, and we continue to be represented by people that only a third of us have voted for. 

Weren鈥檛 youth once the movers and the shakers of the world? The political activists? Those who created change? The youth are the future and if we don鈥檛 vote, what will we think of the world we inherit?

鈥� Tara Sprickerhoff, 

Columneetza student intern