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 achievable (not immediately, but soon) with the help of elected officials and concerned citizens across the country:

• Affordable and world-class post-secondary education for every Canadian.
• Equal access to high-quality health care for every Canadian.
• 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.
• A culture where creativity and the arts are not only supported, but encouraged and celebrated.
• Affordable housing and employment assistance (including training and education) services for all those Canadians in economic hardship.
• A reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and more environment-friendly industry guidelines and government policies.
• Opportunities for the training and certification of skilled immigrant professionals.
• More opportunity for young people to get involved in the civic and political process, and transparency at all levels of government.
• A commitment to making a difference in the global community through a dedication to the struggle for human rights, pluralism, peace, and civil society.