Halifax students call on City Hall for more affordable housing, transit

Post-secondary students in Halifax are gearing up for the October municipal election.

Members of the Canadian Federation of Students took to the Grand Parade Thursday morning to leave messages in chalk for municipal politicians.

Fifteen students wrote messages, such as"Students shouldn't have to choose between textbooks and food."

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"We're here to let students and also the general Halifax public know that students will be voting in the upcoming election, and also chat about what municipal decisions are affecting students right now," said Charlotte Kiddell, the chair of the Canadian Federation of Students' Nova Scotia branch.

Kiddell said those municipalissues includeaffordable housing, food security, arts and culture, wages, and public transportation.

The students are askingthe city to consider licenses for landlords anda $15 minimum wage formunicipal workers, which they hope will encourage higher wages across the board.

Affordable housing 'incredibly difficult'

Gina Grattan also attended the protest, and says housing is a big issue for students.

"Finding a place to live in the city that is both affordable andclose to campusis incredibly difficult," said Gratton, the external vice-president of the University of King's College student union.

"So in the municipal election we're really calling for more easily accessible affordable housing."

Student voter apathy 'a myth'

Kiddell says she believes students are willing to get engaged in politics.

"I think that student voter apathy is a bit of a myth, actually. In the last federal election we saw record turnout from students and youth. That was one of the largest increases in voter turnout across the Canadian population."

Kiddell says her organization will be on campuses this fall, trying to get students to understand how municipal issues affect them. She also noted a change in voter eligibility from the last municipalelection, which might make it easier for some students to vote.

Rule change means more students can vote

Eligible voters must be resident in Nova Scotia for six months before advance polling begins, but need only live in HRM for one day before the advancepollsbeginon Oct. 7. Election day is Oct. 15.

Lori McKinnon, the city's election coordinator, confirmed that means if a student's family home is in Pictou and that student moves to Halifax to attend school in September, the student would be eligible to vote in the Halifax election.

However, if a student's family home is in Ontario and that student moves to Halifax in September, the student would not be eligible to vote.