This First Person article is the experience of Harman Banga, who lives in Brampton, Ont. For more information about CBC’s First Person stories, please see the FAQ.
Hi, I’m Harman. I turned 18 in February and will cast my very first vote in the upcoming federal election.
I’m also a first-generation Canadian. This year marks the 20th anniversary of my parents making Canada their home. Seeking job opportunities, they moved from Punjab, India, to Toronto. They put in long hours, bought a home, raised two kids and became Canadian citizens. Eventually, my parents found good-paying jobs in the auto industry.
My dad worked as an operator for an auto parts manufacturer. My mom started in the same position but got an opportunity in maintenance and eventually became a quality systems co-ordinator. She’s my role model for how hard work can lead to success. My little brother has just started high school. As for me, I’m all set to graduate from high school in June. I will study humanities at the University of Toronto this fall and dream of becoming a journalist someday.
If there’s a perfect example of the immigrant dream, my family was living it. But with the impact of the ongoing trade war between Canada and the U.S. and the rising cost of living, I worry about my economic future and job security.
With Ontario’s auto industry slowing down, my dad was one of the many people laid off. My ordinary, middle-class family is anxious. Groceries, gas, mortgages and taxes are where most of our income goes.
The news just adds to those anxieties. As political leaders threaten each other with tariffs, we pray that the worst doesn’t happen. Tariffs for my family mean my dad likely won’t be rehired and my mom’s auto plant might close as well.
This fall, there’ll be an additional expense for my family as I head off to university. I’m grateful my parents religiously put money into a RESP account for the past 18 years. Thankfully, my hard work paid off and I also received an entrance scholarship. I’m set up well for success, but I can’t help scrolling on LinkedIn.
Instead of relaxing after stressful exam seasons, I spent the past two summers doing paid internships.
The experiences were valuable, but if I’m being honest, having something in my bank account was a reassurance. It removed some of my financial stress and allowed me to focus on my studies during the school year, unlike some of my classmates who work part-time.
By living at home, I can pay for half of my four-year university degree, but I’m concerned about what happens next.
My parents tell me to not worry, but I can’t help it.
Even though I’m set to do a degree in humanities, I almost went for science or engineering for the promise of traditional stability. Right now, choosing a career path feels a lot like driving blindfolded. I can only hope that my hours of hard work and good grades will someday lead to a stable job, a secure financial future and the same growth opportunities my parents’ generation had.
I know the odds are stacked against me. I live in Brampton, Ont., known as Flower City. When my parents bought their home, it was still a somewhat affordable community. Now, it’s hard to imagine anyone from my generation affording the mortgages of these suburban houses, especially when rents here are rising faster than in any other Canadian city.
When young voters like myself vote, we’re thinking about all these things. Our future rests on governments supporting immigrants, tackling high unemployment and providing relief for middle-class families as the trade war between the U.S. and Canada continues.
Not Band-Aid solutions like temporary rebate cheques from Ontario, but long-term solutions that create jobs for Canadians and help the next generation afford their first homes. If the federal minimum wage was raised to a livable one, provinces that fall below that might feel pressured to also raise the bar.
The Liberal government eliminating the interest on federal student loans was a good step. It gives me some relief if I do have to take on a loan to pay for my final years of study.
Voting for the first time seems like a huge and daunting responsibility.
However, with all of the ads attacking other parties, it’s difficult to find detailed information on the policies and issues I care about. I want to make the right choice for the next prime minister and governing party with my vote.
I want to keep calling Canada my home 20 years down the line.
More youth across Canada are having trouble finding work after unemployment rose to a 26-month high in March. Many youth say the increase is being driven by competition from job seekers with more experience.
What’s the one issue that matters the most to you in this federal election? CBC News will publish a range of perspectives from voters who share the personal experience shaping their choice at the ballot box. Read more First Person columns related to the election here.
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