Naiwen Cao plans to put on a purple T-shirt with a Maple Leaf on election day.
The 31-year-old says he’s feeling significantly patriotic for the April 28 federal vote, as a result of will probably be his first time casting a poll — not simply as a brand new Canadian — however ever.
“I’m very excited to vote,” mentioned Cao, who immigrated to Calgary from China in 2021. He received his Canadian citizenship in January.
“I got here from China. You by no means vote there. I don’t take into account it free will.”
He’s nonetheless determining which candidate in his driving finest addresses the problems he cares about.
Canada’s commerce warfare with america has taken over a lot of the election marketing campaign, however Cao mentioned he’s extra interested in how the events plan to repair the immigration system to make sure newcomers are arrange for fulfillment.
“I do know immigration shouldn’t be a scorching subject proper now for individuals to speak about, however I actually deal with that.” As an worker on the Centre for Newcomers in Calgary, he’s seen immigrants combine properly and a few not so properly.
How candidates plan to handle Canada’s relationship with China and overseas interference may also decide his vote, he mentioned.
Liberal incumbent Paul Chiang bowed out of the marketing campaign within the Ontario driving of Markham-Unionville after suggesting one other candidate might be turned over to Chinese language officers in change for a bounty. Cao mentioned he was relieved that each one events disagreed with Chiang’s assertion.
“Chiang’s feedback involved me as a Chinese language group member,” he mentioned. “I got here from China, so I understand how issues work in China. I extra agree with Canadian values, the way you deal with individuals.”
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Cao mentioned he plans to vote, as a result of he’s positive of 1 factor: “I would like Canada to be robust.”
An internet survey performed from April 1-4 by the Institute for Canadian Citizenship suggests 29 per cent of two,397 new Canadian voters are open to altering their minds earlier than polling day.
About 80 per cent of these surveyed mentioned the price of residing was one in every of their high 5 considerations. Well being care was second and housing was third.
“New Canadians are extraordinarily engaged civically — 92 per cent mentioned that they have been aspiring to vote on this election,” mentioned Daniel Bernhard, the group’s CEO. Elections Canada says the general voter turnout within the final federal election in 2021 was simply over 62 per cent.
“That for me … is heartening to see that individuals who have turn into Canadian by selection are literally extra concerned with our democracy in some instances than these of us who grew to become Canadian by start.”
He mentioned the survey suggests, though they’re taking note of the commerce warfare, new Canadians are centered on making ends meet.
“In contrast to many Canadians who’ve turn into connected to a selected social gathering as a matter of non-public identification, new Canadians are far more open to persuasion,” he mentioned.
Amongst them is Valeria Shibanova, who immigrated to Canada from Russia and have become a citizen in 2022.
The North Bay, Ont., resident says she’s torn between the world’s Liberal and Conservative candidates as a result of she didn’t respect former prime minister Stephen Harper’s coverage on immigration, however the housing disaster beneath the final decade of Liberal authorities has worsened.
“I wouldn’t have come to a rustic realizing that I won’t have the ability to afford even hire,” she mentioned.
“So it’s like I don’t like (Conservative Chief Pierre Poilievre), however I additionally don’t need to vote for individuals who received us into this mess. So I’m actually torn.”
Rizwan Ahmad, 27, mentioned he is aware of who he’s casting his poll for.
“I’m voting Conservative,” mentioned the Calgary resident, who additionally works on the metropolis’s Centre for Newcomers. He moved to Canada from Pakistan in 2015 and obtained his Canadian citizenship in 2020.
“Previous 10 years, issues haven’t been trying so nice, with housing and inflation,” he mentioned.
“Younger individuals are feeling hopeless. I’ve associates coping with it. They’re reluctant to begin a household.”
Ahmad mentioned he’s additionally excited to vote on election day.
“It feels empowering to vote for the primary time in Canada,” he mentioned.
“I respect democracy.”
© 2025 The Canadian Press
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