Human rights, housing and the economy: Labrador youth share their federal election priorities

Human rights, housing and the economy are top of mind for three Labrador youth who are watching the federal election closely.

For Emily Kavanagh, human rights are center stage. Kavanagh grew up in Labrador City and said it’s scary to watch how the rights of transgender, non-binary and other 2SLGBTQIA+ folks are being eroded in the United States, along with how immigrants are being treated. “I know friends down there who are queer, who are terrified right now, and I want to be able to see those issues handled better in Canada,” Kavanagh said. “There is that worry, that Canada will be next.”

Kavanagh wants to see the next government hold time and space for transgender people, for example, and outwardly support their human rights and acknowledge their right to exist, she said. 

Similarly, with mass deportations happening in the U.S., Kavanagh said there are worries similar policies could creep into Canada, depending on which party forms the next government. She hopes whoever wins the election will not bend to demands by the U.S. Kavanagh and says some of the federal parties’ policies give her hope. “There’s a lot of people I know now who are also changing their opinions and deciding to vote different than they have, like ever,” she says. “So there is a light in the darkness.” 

Kaleb Dicker is one year away from voting but is watching the election closely. The 17-year-old Inuk in Nain says he’s watching the how the parties approach to reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, and housing especially. 

Dicker wants to see Labrador’s next member of parliament take aim at the housing crisis immediately, while Nain and other northern communities are living in overcrowded homes and many don’t have a home of their own.

The Liberal Party, under Mark Carney, promises to build more housing and create a new federal agency to develop affordable housing, as well as eliminate the GST for first-time homebuyers on new and majorly renovated homes under $1 million. The Liberals have also promised to spend almost $474 million to improve critical housing infrastructure and housing development in the north. 

The Conservative Party, under Pierre Poilievre, has promised to eliminate the GST on new homes up to $1.3 million, tie federal funding for cities to the number of housing starts, and cities and municipalities would be expected to increase the number of homes they build by 15 per cent each year. The Conservatives have also promised to sell off 15 per cent of federally-owned buildings to build affordable homes. 

The NDP has promised a $16 billion strategy to support building affordable homes. The New Democrats would replace the current housing accelerator fund with permanent funding for two new programs: the Canadian homes transfer and the communities first fund, with the aim to build three million affordable homes over the next five years. 

Dicker says he would like to see a government agency created to lead the development of affordable housing, especially in remote and rural communities like Nain. As well as continued work to address long standing issues facing Indigenous Peoples, like boil advisories for drinking water. “Addressing Indigenous rights and reconciliation is essential for fostering social justice and unity within Canada, recognizing and recertifying historical injustices against the Indigenous communities helps to build trust and respect.”

Watching for red flags 

Dicker says he’s noticed some red flags when it comes to Poilievre and the Conservative Party of Canada on Indigenous rights. He points to Poilievre’s 2008 comment about how Indigenous people don’t need compensation for residential schools but instead need to learn the value of hard work. Dicker also notes the Conservative leader’s response to an endorsement from billionaire Elon Musk, who was appointed by U.S. President Donald Trump to make sweeping changes to government departments south of the border. Dicker says Poilivre deflected a journalist’s question about Musk’s endorsement and instead pointed to how his son is interested in going to Mars. “That’s a huge red flag, and to me, that is not someone who I would want around the country,” Dicker says. 

Bill C-69 is another important issue for Dicker, as Nunatsiavummiut are disproportionately bearing the brunt of the climate crisis. Passed in 2019, the legislation mandates assessments for major projects that could impact the environment, climate, Indigenous rights, human health and the economy.

The Conservatives want to repeal the bill, claiming C-69 makes it “impossible” to build the pipelines and infrastructure Canada needs. They’ve also pledged to remove the industrial carbon tax, increase oil production, and create a Canadian Indigenous Opportunities Corporation, led by Indigenous people to offer loan guarantees for Indigenous communities. 

The Liberals have promised to introduce incentives to help families invest in clean energy, and to reinstate the zero-emissions vehicle subsidy program. The party has said it’s open to building pipelines and speeding up energy projects, but will phase out fossil fuels in government buildings by 2030. 

The NDP says it would introduce a border carbon adjustment mechanism to tax imports from countries that don’t have comparable carbon pricing, while cutting oil and gas subsidies, but did not specify which. The party also hasn’t completely shut the door to pipelines. 

Dicker says he wants economic growth while upholding Bill C-69, and for Canada to keep the industrial carbon tax, with climate change as a top priority.

Adam Hill, an 18-year-old Inuk in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, would like to see the federal government do more to address the economy immediately following the election. He says without a strong economy, there’s less funding available for provincial healthcare and other important programs. “It’s really at a low point right now, like just all across North America,” Hill says.

He also wants to see more investments to attract and retain businesses in Labrador, especially in the coastal communities where jobs are scarce and competition is limited, which he says drives up prices in remote and rural communities. The federal Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, for example, provides financial support to eligible Atlantic businesses.

Hill is also concerned about the support veterans receive when their service is complete, especially healthcare. It’s a personal matter for him as Hill’s father served in the military. “He struggles a lot,” Hill said. 

The Independent’s federal election coverage is supported by the Covering Canada: Election 2025 Fund.