Jack Layton's message to youth

From his last letter to Canadians:

All my life I have worked to make things better. Hope and optimism have defined my political career, and I continue to be hopeful and optimistic about Canada. Young people have been a great source of inspiration for me. I have met and talked with so many of you about your dreams, your frustrations, and your ideas for change. More and more, you are engaging in politics because you want to change things for the better. Many of you have placed your trust in our party. As my time in political life draws to a close I want to share with you my belief in your power to change this country and this world. There are great challenges before you, from the overwhelming nature of climate change to the unfairness of an economy that excludes so many from our collective wealth, and the changes necessary to build a more inclusive and generous Canada. I believe in you. Your energy, your vision, your passion for justice are exactly what this country needs today. You need to be at the heart of our economy, our political life, and our plans for the present and the future.

Stephen Harper on Student Issues

Michael Ignatieff on Youth

Vote Mob Time! UVic and McMaster

Vote mob at the University of Victoria:


Coverage of the McMaster University vote mob on CBC's The National:


Also, this. I have no idea what it is, and I'm not sure whether or not to be amused.

Student News

Students at McMaster participated in a flash mob that was allowed into a Conservative rally. True story. "The fact that they let us in today represents that they are listening, they're aware of the student vote," said one of the organizers. Yay student power!

Some people are upset advance polling coincides with Easter weekend. "It's the sheer stupidity of it," says one lady. Personally I think it's genius. Lots of students are going to be heading back to their hometowns for the weekend, whether or not they celebrate Easter, so it's the ideal time to vote in your home riding if you choose to do so!

I like this candidate's style

All political ads should be this fun! I already like this guy so much more than if he'd tried to attack his opponents.

Thank you, Ms. Harrison!

Read Rebecca Harrison's piece in today's Toronto Star about youth apathy.  Finally the point that I and others have been trying to make gets into a mainstream news source!  This is the key part here:

After much deliberation, I would have to say the biggest issue facing young people in this election is the fact that youth themselves are not being engaged. This has created a vicious cycle; youth don’t feel like they are part of the process, so they don’t vote. Since the data shows that they don’t vote, the politicians don’t attempt to engage them.

SImple and eloquent.  Ms. Harrison is the Green candidate for Whitby-Oshawa, and I have to say that so far the Greens have made by far the most effort to engage youth voters.  Hopefully this forces the other parties to take notice.  

Stephen Harper: imagine all the people loving themselves today?

So somebody made the comment on my YouTube channel that the party leaders are all old, grey, and bland-looking. But that doesn't stop them from trying to look hip and with it! Here's Stephen Harper hanging out with Maria Aragon, the Winnipeg girl who played on stage with Lady Gaga last month. He sings along really badly to John Lennon and nods his head vaguely to Gaga. Look at him being all cool!





Stephen Harper and Lady Gaga, there's a mind-boggling pairing. And I have to say, of all the Beatles/Lennon repertoire, "Imagine" isn't the song I would have expected Harper to pick. I also love that Maria doesn't know it at all. This just seems really forced.