Candidates in the upcoming municipal election need to mobilize post-secondary students if they want to effectively represent their potential constituents.
I mean that literally: knock on doors in the University district and beyond — now that many students live north of Princess St. — and include student priorities in campaign platforms. And it’s smart politics, because our voting potential is huge; it’s just not been realized yet.
During the last municipal election in 2022, 29,402 votes were cast for mayor. Queen’s has around 30,000 students, and aside from the relatively small number enrolled in online programs or studying at a GTA campus, most are eligible Kingston residents. That makes students a large enough voting bloc to sway a race.
Candidates who consider the experiences of post-secondary students (including St. Lawrence College and the Royal Military College, who are another 5,000 and 1,200 voters respectively) and effectively capture our attention could make all the difference in this highly contested election.
City Council is required by provincial law to pass a balanced operating budget while considering the priorities of residents from all walks of life. Students won’t be the focus of every decision, but there are key areas that have a significant impact on us.
Housing, transportation, waste removal, and noise bylaws are just a few of the issues we’ll be voting on this October.
Students care about the cost and standards of living. Debates over whether landlords should be required to provide air conditioning are heating up as summers get hotter and last longer into the fall semester.
Keeping public transportation financially accessible also matters to us. The City has hiked its Queen’s student bus pass from $122 to $180 as of this school year.
Queen’s students also have unique waste removal needs. Many student units house six to eight people, making it difficult to fit a week’s worth of garbage into a single permitted bag. This leads to additional expenses for bag tags, or worse, messy streets and litter that impacts everyone.
The University District Safety Initiative (UDSI), triggered by a City Council vote, has become a routine enforcement measure in September, October, and March. One to two weeks at a time of intensified bylaw and police enforcement results in fines and court appearances for house parties, loud music, and open alcohol.
Queen’s students have diverse opinions on these matters, and much more. Candidates in this election, particularly for districts nine, 10, and 11, should engage with students, demonstrate a willingness to understand our needs, and advocate for students as full members of the community.
Students, however, should not take their political influence for granted. It wasn’t long ago when City Council voted to redistrict in a way that no longer considered post-secondary students as Kingston residents. Fortunately, an appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board overthrew that 2014 decision. Regardless, it sent a strong message and provides even more reason as to why Queen’s students should exercise their rights and make themselves heard.
While students don’t historically come out to vote in swarms, the onus is on this year’s candidates to present policies and share a story so compelling that the youngest and most influential voting population feels inspired to head to the polls — or just pull out their phones to cast an online ballot.
At your service,
Niki
Tags
Municipal elections, Opinion, Politics, Provincial Law, Rector's Digest
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