Renew Ontario!

Nick Lin
Independent Candidate
Trinity-Spadina

My name is Nick Lin. I am a political activist with the Toronto Student Movement (the Marxist-Leninist Party
Club at U of T), and the Student Christian Movement, working both on and off the campus to defend the interests and
rights of youth and students. I work in Trinity-Spadina as a personal attendant for a woman with paraplegia.
For youth today, the necessity of an education has become more and more obvious, and thus the right to an
education needs to be affi rmed now more than ever. Several demands need to be met to recognize this right:

1) that the right to education from primary to post-secondary level be guaranteed in legislation
2) that tuition hikes be stopped immediately and fees be decreased until tuition is free
3) that the businesses and corporations which currently receive trained, educated workers free of cost be
required to pay a levy to fi nance post_secondary education and training
4) that the system of loans which turns students into indebted clients of the banks be abolished and be
replaced with a bursary system.

As youth and students, we want a bright future for ourselves and others. So, across the province we have also
been active on many other political issues. Along with thousands of others, we have been opposing the war on Iraq,
and now its ongoing occupation. We can be seen in every struggle for social justice, be that housing, employment,
opposition to racial discrimination, and the criminalization of dissent. Canada’s new anti-terrorism legislation is being
used to criminalize innocent people. We are being threatened that in order for Ontario to prosper, we must do whatever
suits the U.S. to keep our borders open. So, now we have put ourselves in the fi ght against racial profi ling, security
certifi cates, and U.S. annexationist pressure.

With all of our concerns and efforts, what venues exist for us to affect change?
We are told that our vote is our say in the political process. However, this equation is actually used to sideline
everyone and their concerns. National minorities, youth, women, workers and other collectives in society are treated
as vote banks for the major parties. We are told why we should vote for this or that big party’s platform, while at the
same time, we have no say in the creation of those platforms. There is no accountability for promises that are made to
get our votes. Once we have served our purpose, i.e., handed our political power over to a major party by casting our
ballots, we are relegated to the status of lobbying as a “special interest group” for the recognition of our rights.

The major political question to be answered today by every section of society is how do we put that decisionmaking/
political power in our own hands?

I have answered this question by organizing myself and other youth to run in the Ontario elections under the
slogan “Renew Ontario”. Why shouldn’t youth, teachers, workers, and everyone else elect members of their own
collectives to represent their views and concerns in parliament? Who would be more qualifi ed to represent the best
interests of young people than a youth? Why shouldn’t the youth who are fi ghting everyday for their rights elect one
of their own to stand in parliament and continue that struggle there?

Let us end our marginalization! Vote for democratic renewal and the recognition of rights. Reject the politics
of the Conservatives, NDP and Liberals. We can and must govern our own affairs by voting for candidates who
represent our interests.

If you are interested in getting involved in this work for democratic renewal, during this election or after,
please call (416) 416-407-3166, or email RenewOntario@yahoo.ca.

Let’s Take a Bold Step Together
In Defence of the Rights of All!

authorized by the CFO of the Nick Lin Campaign