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On April 28, La Converse was buzzing with excitement during the federal election as we hosted an election night event at our offices. About 50 people from all walks of life came together for the occasion. Among them were representatives from several organizations, including the Saint-Michel Youth Forum, Équipe RDP, Table de quartier de Montréal-Nord, Philo Boxe, CARI Saint-Laurent, and Startop. This diversity created an engaging atmosphere conducive to discussions on issues crucial to marginalized communities. Our goal? To address topics that are rarely covered by traditional media as part of this flash campaign and to gauge the concerns of the voters in the room.
Video: Ismaël Koné
The evening, hosted by journalist Cyrille Ekwalla and journalists from La Converse, began with a political quiz for the young people in the room. It was a fun way to break the ice and prepare participants for an open dialogue on Canadian politics and the particularities of the election campaign.
The journalists from La Converse then shared their experiences and observations about their coverage of the election campaign. Their testimonials paved the way for lively discussions on a variety of topics, ranging from political representation to civic engagement. Many participants questioned the effectiveness of the current electoral system, the lack of representation of racialized communities, and the absence of issues affecting marginalized communities.
“I don't believe in the political system. I don't even think it represents the majority of the population. Every election, I don't feel represented. (...) The electoral system isn't designed for people like me or people who come from neighborhoods like Côte-des-Neiges, Saint-Michel, or Montreal North,” said one participant. (...)” said one participant. This sentiment was shared by several people present that evening. This comment sparked a discussion on the need to reform the system so that it can better serve marginalized voices.
Another participant addressed the issue of voting culture within immigrant communities: “The problem with people from immigrant backgrounds is that most parents who come here have fled a corrupt system, so they don't pass on a culture of voting to their children. Despite the fact that young people in these communities like politics and talk about it, when it comes time to vote, they don't have that culture of voting.”
The evening also addressed issues such as voting among Latin Americans in Montreal, coverage of First Nations issues during the campaign, and Haitian asylum seekers—an issue that has been taken up by a large segment of the political class, according to one participant.
“We hear a lot of people saying they're going to vote strategically,” added a young first-time voter. She spoke of the complexity of making an electoral choice in a political landscape that sometimes seems foreign to her.
Following the discussions, the election night was broadcast live, allowing participants to follow the results in a relaxed atmosphere.
The evening gave voice to sometimes discordant opinions—particularly on the necessity of voting and the message to convey to younger people on this issue—but all agreed on one point: the underrepresentation of racialized communities in these elections.