With a federal election less than three weeks away, Dose ran a feature yesterday where they asked youth what they want from their country. This got me thinking of what I truly want, myself, from Canada. Hopefully, they are all acheivable (not immediately, but soon) with the help of elected officials and concerned citizens across the country:

1. Affordable and world-class post-secondary education for every Canadian.
2. Equal access to high-quality health care for every Canadian.
3. A social environment in which youth — through education, recreation, employment, and civic engagement — do not see violent crime as a viable option for dispute resolution, economic betterment, or social belonging.
4. A culture where creativity and the arts are not only supported, but encouraged and celebrated.
5. Affordable housing and employment assistance (including training and education) services for all those Canadians in economic hardship.
6. A reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and more environment-friendly industry guidelines and government policies.
7. Opportunities for the training and certification of skilled immigrant professionals.
8. More opportunity for young people to get involved in the civic and political process, and transparency at all levels of government.
9. A commitment to making a difference in the global community through a dedication to the struggle for human rights, pluralism, peace, and civil society.