TORONTO -- As part of our federal election coverage, 麻豆传媒 is following seven undecided Canadian voters as they determine who they will support on Oct. 21.
The project will check in with them as the election unfolds, as each individual determines which candidate represents the issues they identify with the most -- whether it鈥檚 diversity and inclusion, healthcare or jobs.
Meet the undecided:
Hoda Al-Obaidi, Waterloo, Ont.
First-time voter Al-Obaidi is originally from Iraq and came to Canada in 2013, becoming a citizen in 2018.
鈥淚t feels overwhelming and exciting at the same time,鈥 Al-Obaidi says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a big responsibility to be able to vote in Canada.鈥
Al-Obaidi says she is looking for a candidate whose platform prioritizes 鈥渄iversity and inclusion,鈥 and says she finds it 鈥渉ard鈥o trust any political system鈥 after 鈥渃oming from a background of extremism and corrupt systems.鈥
Leonie Pelletier, Montreal, Que.
Pelletier says that as a single mother of two young boys, education, health and affordable housing are the major issues she will be keeping an eye on in this election.
鈥淎ffordable housing is really important to me,鈥 Pelletier says. 鈥淚 am a newly single mom鈥e need to find a house and it is definitely a concern for me.鈥
Looking forward to the debates, Pelletier says she hopes to be 鈥渟urprised鈥 by the candidates and wants to hear 鈥渕ore about families and feel like we are taken care of.鈥
Jarret Leaman, Toronto, Ont.
As an Anishinaabe member of Magnetawan First Nation, Leaman says inclusion of Indigenous and First Nation peoples and LGBTQ2S issues are key, as is 鈥渨orking on the digital divide between First Nations people and non-Indigenous people.鈥
Leaman noted that in the last federal election 鈥淚ndigenous communities and people swayed votes in many ridings,鈥 so a priority for candidates should be 鈥渆ncouraging [his] community to vote for issues that they feel are important.鈥
Brad Pinhorn, Bonnyville, Alta.
As a tradesperson working in Alberta, Pinhorn cites the need for 鈥渁 government that鈥檚 going to think about the west as well as the east.鈥
Pinhorn says that he will base his decisions on what is important for himself and his family, which include his wife and four children 鈥 with two major concerns being education and healthcare.
Barb Hamilton-Hinch, Halifax, N.S.
As an educator at Dalhousie University鈥檚 School of Health and Human Performance, Hamilton-Hinch wants a candidate that will support students 鈥渋n terms of financial support,鈥 and says 鈥渕ore funding needs to be put in place for sports for our community and education.鈥
Crucial for Hamilton-Hinch is diversity and inclusion, as within the current government she鈥檚 鈥渟till not seeing many people of African descent both running and engaged in government.鈥
Donna and Derek Nanson, Vancouver, B.C.
Donna and Derek Nanson say they鈥檙e undecided because 鈥渢he parties鈥aven鈥檛 clearly spelled out their platform[s],鈥 but agree that climate change is the 鈥渕ost important鈥 issue for them, as 鈥渋t is the root of our future.鈥
鈥淲e have five children, we have seven grandchildren鈥 want my children to have the chance I had,鈥 they said. 鈥淲e care about the human population on this planet.鈥
