CBC is not the only one who has a voter opinion compass for the upcoming federal election. I do too.
It’s my hair stylists’, if I dare apply the word “style” to my fringe on top.
While chatting with several young hairdressers in the last couple of years I found most are from rural communities, and most want to go home. They love the town where they grew up, the family gatherings, the deep friendships, a place filled with people, stories and memories that are precious to them.
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Unfortunately, most feel shut out.
They came to the city to enjoy the freedom, get some training and meet potential mates. But they always planned to go home eventually. Now they have a job and an education, but miss their community. They’d love to work in the home town, but there just aren’t opportunities.
So this is how I’m assessing the promises of the four federal parties who have candidates on the Prairies: I’m voting for the party that makes it most possible for my hairdressers, and other 25 to 35 year olds to live and work in rural communities.
I want to make sure that rural communities have a future. Rural needs are not high profile in any of the party platforms, but here are a few items that might make a difference.
Greens:Over the next three years, $425 million to help farmers transition to organic agriculture and $285 million to help retrain forestry workers and assist reforestation.
Conservatives:Cover up to $1,000 of children’s physical activity fees and expand adult basic education programming in the north.
Liberals:Restore and maintain rural postal service and place a full EI premium holiday on new youth hires.
NDP:Job creation tax credit for new hires, reduce small business tax rate to nine from 11 percent and improve community infrastructure to support the growth of child-care spaces.
Conservatives and Liberals:Forgive student debt of health practitioners if they are willing to serve in rural and aboriginal communities.
Conservatives, Liberals and NDP:Extend high-speed broadband to all or most rural and remote communities. In 1997, the federal government said it wanted rural communities to be “self-sustaining communities with ample opportunities for employment … rich in culture and supporting family life … (with) services and employment to retain and attract people.”
In the 14 years since then, the government hasn’t done much to make that vision a reality. This is the time to put on some pressure. I’m pretty sure my hair isn’t coming back, but I’d like to make sure our young people do.
Cam Harder is associate professor of systematic theology at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Saskatoon.
