Young voters react to national leaders’ debate

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This article was published 17/09/2015 (3686 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A little too scripted, a little light on climate change and poverty policies and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau interrupted too much.

Those were among the reactions to Thursday night’s leaders’ debate, the second of the campaign so far and one that saw a standing-room only crowd of voters gather at the Winnipeg Free Press News café for a viewing party.

“I was undecided until the debate and now I am leaning more towards the NDP at this point,” said Roberto Torres, 21. “I feel like Trudeau repeated himself a bunch of times and all of the leaders sort of danced around a few issues. (NDP Leader Tom) Mulcair wouldn’t give a number about the carbon tax. (Prime Minister Stephen) Harper just glazed over other issues and Trudeau tended to interrupt a lot, which was distracting.”

Torres, who will vote for the first time in a federal election next month, said he was disappointed there wasn’t more debate over climate change.

Winnipeg South Centre resident Norma Kerr, who is considering voting Green, said she hoped to hear more about poverty as an economic issue, though she was heartened by Mulcair’s pledge to increase the guaranteed income supplement for seniors.

She praised Mulcair’s and Trudeau’s performances, even though Trudeau talked over the other leaders too often. And she lamented the absence of Green Leader Elizabeth May.

Kerr echoed one common complaint of the race so far, a campaign dominated by appeals to middle-class voters.

“They were continually talking about the middle class, but I bet not one person in this room could define what that is,” she said.

The crowd at Thursday night’s viewing party was almost entirely young. Many of them were NDP-friendly, clapping when Mulcair said everyone except indigenous people are immigrants to Canada, and when he wondered how young people could ever benefit from Harper’s home renovation tax credit when they can’t afford to buy a home. But, the crowd was also largely subdued, offering few jeers or cheers as the three leaders often talked over one another. When Harper asked Canadians where they would rather live during global economic turmoil that Canada, one young debate-watcher shouted “Sweden!”

Student Robert Light, who is leaning toward voting Liberal, praised Mulcair’s performance, calling it self-assured. He also noted Mulcair had the best zingers of the evening.

But, Light said the debate won’t likely sway his vote, in part because he appreciates what he called Trudeau’s honest approach to the budget.

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Trudeau has said he will boost spending, especially on infrastructure, and delay balancing the budget until 2019-2020. Light said he prefers that approach to an arbitrary commitment to balance the budget.

“If you’re trying to improve the economy, you don’t limit government spending just to satisfy a balanced budget,” he said

To watch a video recap of the evening, please visit www.winnipegfreepress.com.

maryagnes.welch@freepress.mb.ca

kristin.annable@freepress.mb.ca