Making Informed Choices: Resources

As I sat ruminating on an email request for a youth speaker that would 'energize and inspire' the crowd, I was filled with mixed emotions. Before I could really think about it, yet after what felt like hours of thinking about it, I hit the 'send' button and separated myself from my laptop as far as physically possible. What was I thinking? Did I just sign up for that? I thought about why the topic resonated so deeply and knew I made the right decision.

1. If you’re not sure what your main political priorities are, in general, for this election, use CBC’s Vote Compass. This super-quick survey asks you 30 questions about various values, from proof of vaccination to firearm bans to corporate taxes to oil pipelines. In the end, based on your responses, it reveals which party you’d likely align with. Please note that this is one tool, and further research is deemed necessary to be a truly #informedvoter.
   
2. If you’d like to learn more about where each party stands on various issues, use Maclean’s Election Platform Guide, Global News’ Promise Tracker, and VoteMate’s Platform Comparison (less political jargon on this one). These tools outline where each party stands on issues such as climate change and the environment, housing, health, etc. When using VoteMate, you can react with a :), :(, or :| and it tallies it up for you at the end to see which party’s policies you are most :) with.
3. If you’d like to know how each party leader is responding to the top identified issues important to young voters, use Future Majority’s VoteTube.
   
4. If you’d like to dive deeper into each parties’ environment and climate change platforms, use Shake Up the Establishment’s Non-Partisan Platform Comparison, Environmental Defence’s Guide to a Strong Climate Plan and Election 2021 Enviro Survey tool (reflecting the collective priorities of 12 environmental organizations, including the David Suzuki Foundation, Greenpeace, Sierra Club Canada, WWF, etc.)
   

That’s a lot of information, yes. However, these tools have been made to make life easier, so give them a try. Remember, advance voting days are September 10 - September 13, and election day is September 20. Time to get to work!

To support the work of some kickass organizations hustling full-time, year-round to empower youth democracy, be sure to follow Apathy is Boring and Engage Democracy.