New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jack Layton was in town on April 5, stirring-up support at a rally near Selkirk ave. and McGregor, for the upcoming federal election.
Layton started off by saying that he was dedicated to helping Manitobans fight the spring floods, and hoped federal assistance would be provided if needed.
He wasted no time taking a swing at Harper, saying that “Winnipeg needs a team in Ottawa it can trust, because you can’t trust Stephen Harper.”
Layton promised to cap credit fees so people would have a, “fighting chance to make ends meet.” He also promised small business tax-cuts and, “rewards to the real job creators with targeted tax credits.”
In addition, Layton said the NDP would invest in a green energy economy, and stop Harper’s subsidies “to the big polluters.”
Layton continued by making points against Harper stating that Harper’s government said it would make healthcare a priority, but it did not.
“I never thought I’d see the day where a Canadian hospital would have to use their coffee shop as an emergency room,” said Layton touching upon an incident in Vancouver, British Columbia, where the Royal Columbian Hospital had to temporarily use a Tim Hortons as an emergency room, due to overcrowding.
“Under Stephen Harper, hospital hallway medicine has graduated to Tim Horton’s healthcare,” said Layton.
Layton also promised more accessible and affordable childcare, and improved pension and retirement security.
Layton also took a swing at Ignatieff, saying that “folks here in Winnipeg know that Michael Ignatieff isn’t the solution. In fact he’s part of the problem.”
He accused Ignatieff of supporting corporate tax cuts that he now claims to oppose. Layton also told the crowd that Ignatieff promised to get Canadian troops home from Afghanistan, but then ended-up supporting Harper’s move to extend the mission another three years.
Layton is coming-off a recent hip surgery, and announcement in February that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Svitlana Maluzynsky a former University of Manitoba student, who is now studying at the University of Winnipeg, said she decided to come out to the rally because she felt there are not enough youth engaged in politics.
”I think its extremely important that we have a voice, because if we don’t vote who’s deciding what’s going on in our country? Certainly not us,” said Maluzynsky.
Maluzynsky thinks that some of the reasons why young people aren’t more engaged by politics, might be due to the homogenized appearance of politicians, and just a general lack of education on political issues.
“I think one of the problems is [young people] only see one type of person out there, and it’s usually an older white male. […] I think that turns some people off, because they think it’s just the ‘old-boys club’,” explained Maluzynsky.
Nancy Furtado, an incoming student at Red River College, said she decided to attend because she believes that youth need to have their voice heard, and more youth need to get involved.
“You can’t really complain, and say there isn’t enough changes being set-forth if you’re not willing to go out there and take part, and have your part in it to form those changes,” she said.
Furtado added that youth seem to simply follow one another when it comes to voting.
“[Youth] just kind of meld into one another. There is no separation there, they’re not really informed, and they don’t take the issue seriously. I find that it is almost the domino effect – that if one, in a close friend group votes Conservative, then the others will also vote conservative,” explained Furtado.
