Editor’s Note: For the 2019 federal election, TimminsToday teamed up with a journalism student to provide extra coverage on important issues.
The interviews conducted during this Q and A series were done by Dana Simpson from Algonquin College in Ottawa. The issues and topics of discussion focused mainly on youth and young adults in Canada and the Timmins-James Bay riding. The answers have been edited for length and clarity.
What will you do to support youth in the LGBTQ+ community in your area?
NDP Charlie Angus
I have been involved with the pride committee in Timmins-James Bay for years. I was actually excommunicated from my local church for supporting equal marriage opportunities and I will continue to stand up for those rights. The pride committee and women’s organizations do a great job of creating safe spaces in our community and I will continue to support and be an ally in the pride community.
Liberal Michelle Boileau
What we’re doing is to continue to work with the organizations doing the work in the communities and we’re making significant investments. I recall seeing $10 million a year over three years for LGBTQ2 organizations so they can hire staff, expand their services and reach a greater number of people. And we’re looking at banning conversion therapy – it’s a practice that targets the most vulnerable and it’s unacceptable. Love is love and that’s where I stand on it.
Conservative Kraymr Grenke
We want to support all members of all communities. That’s our ultimate goal: everybody who is a Canadian, we want to continue to support them. I don’t quite know the specifics at this point in our area, but like I said, we are committed to supporting all Canadians and I’m more than looking forward to having that conversation as we sit down and move forward post-election time.Green Max Kennedy
We need to be taking a lot of things that have been going on and advancing them. Certainly, recognising and building on their rights. We recognise that there are diverse genders, these things are natural. We will repeal discriminatory laws like section 59 of the criminal code which prevents same-sex sex. We will get rid of all the derogatory terms that are within that. We will be supporting suicide prevention counselling, peer support, and education on differences in sexual identities.PPC Renaud Roy
I will not play into identity politics. Every Canadian is equal under Canadian law and will be treated with the same fairness and respect from me and our party.
Other topics in the Q&A series are: access to healthy food, youth homelessness, better support for mental health and substance abuse issues, how to make students feel safer, support for LGBTQ+ youth, and support for the local ecosystem.
The federal election is Oct. 21. More local coverage is available here.
