6 THE VOICE | THURSDAY, OCT. 11,2018 | EDITORLISA STEACY Viewpoints Resident yet cant cast vote ith the civic elections coming up this month, candidates are promising to make life in Vancouver better for the people who live here. Everyone with a Canadian pass- port has the opportunity to vote for the candidate who they think has the best plan to tackle the is- sues that matter to them. But what about the thousands of people who have been living in the city on a permanent or semi-permanent ba- sis? It’s frustrating to watch full buses pass you by every day. It’s almost impossible to find affordable hous- ing. Government decisions affect our lives on a daily basis. But if youre an international student, or even a perma- nent resident, you don’t have a right to vote. In 2011, there were 60,000 permanent residents liv- ing in Vancou- ver. Roughly 45 countries around OPINION MATILDA the world permit de VILLIERS those residents to vote in lo- cal elections. In New Zealand, if you've been an immigrant living in the country for more than a year, youre allowed to vote in national elections. I moved to Vancouver two years ago on a study permit. Since I moved here, I feel that I have fully integrated myself into life in the city. My plan has always been to stay on after my studies and move towards acquiring citizenship. I know that the process will be long and expensive but I feel that it is important for my future to put down strong roots here. I would like to raise a family in Canada. It’s likely that by the time I get my permanent residency, I will have been living in Vancouver for about four years. If] still can't vote in local elections or have any say about how the city is run, it is something that is going to impact how I feel about my place in my new community. Even though most students leave after graduation, those who wish to stay in the country after graduation have a long road ahead of them. And while they wait to become permanent residents and to apply for citizenship they work and pay taxes. They access government ser- vices and they contribute to their communities. But they have no say in how the city they call home is run. In April Vancouver city council passed a motion recommending that permanent residents be al- lowed to vote. It’s a step in the right direction but the provincial govern- ment will have to pass legislation to make this a reality. This means that I will have to wait at least another four years to vote for a new mayor. } poeey pases ae Langara's ban on campus smoking was an admirable and well-inten yi the school's neighbours and the environment. RENA MEDOW ILLUSTRATION Butt what about the mess angara’s smoking ban came into effect on May 1 prohibiting smoking and vaping everywhere on campus. The initiative to encour- age a healthy lifestyle at Langara is well-intentioned but trying to push the problem off campus has created a new one. The policy says Langara will monitor litter caused by the ban but anyone — walk- ing along 49th Avenue and up to the entrance of Building A can see cigarette butts crushed § ( into the pave- ’ ment, strewn OPINION over the grass and hidden un- der benches. KATHRYN Flicking a ciga~ TINDALE rette after use is common practice for most smokers. ‘The college anticipated the con- sequence of litter with the intro- duction of a smoke-free campus. The website says: “Langara College will monitor, through our facilities department, any litter that may be caused by this policy initiative.” So far, the monitoring of litter and the enforcement of the ban are nonexistent. Smoking continues on campus and all around the perimeter. Pro- hibiting the act is not a deterrent and it is not reasonable to assume smoking will cease all at once. Ashtrays have been removed. Signs have been posted proclaiming Langara is “smoke free.” But these things don’t disrupt addiction and they don’t address the environmen- tal consequences of the ban. Cigarette filters contain plastic, the butts are non-biodegradable. These toxic remnants from smok- ing are one of the most commonly littered objects, according to Truth Initiative, a non-profit control or- ganization. According to the Cigarette Butt Pollution Project, cigarette butts are currently the largest ocean con- taminant. When butts go uncol- lected, they can end up in the sewer system and leak into the ocean, a consequence that so far hasn’t been addressed by the college. The facilities department says it is installing disposal bins. Though it’s not quite clear when or where they'll be set up. It makes sense that smoking should be discouraged and that it should take place at a reasonable “When butts go uncollected, they can end up in the sewer system and leak into the ocean, a consequence that so far hasn't been addressed by the college.” distance from campus. The nega- tive impact on health is indisput- able. According to the Canadian Can- cer Society, tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death in the country. ‘The initiative began as a response tioned move, but in forcing smokers to the school's margins it's created new problems for to increasing complaints of second- hand smoke which the college took seriously. A campus-wide survey conduct- ed as phase one of the project ear- lier this year reported 74 per cent of respondents supported a smoke- free campus. Langara has taken a health-con- scious stance on smoking, follow- ing in the footsteps of campuses like Dalhousie University, Acadia University, and the University of Winnipeg. Taking action to sup- port the majority's concerns is admirable of the college and con- tinues the momentum for other in- stitutions to follow. Ideally, future initiatives will proceed with more forethought put into addressing the environmental impact of the decision. In the meantime smokers should be aware of the impact and con- sciously dispose of their cigarette butts until the college follows through with their commitment to cleaning up the litter. Those wishing to quit smoking can visit Langara’s Health Ser- vices in Building B for informa- tion regarding how to get nicotine replacement therapy free of charge. The Voice is pub- lished by Langara College’s joumalism government and administration. We welcome letters to department. Editorial — the editor. They may opinions are those be edited for brevity. of the staff and Your letter must in- are independent of clude your name and views of the student phone number. Room A226 Langara College 604-323-5396 The Voice 100 West 49th Ave. thevoice@langara. Vancouver, B.C. be.ca V5Y 226 langaravoice.ca Lisa Steacy Nikitha Martins Amanda Poole Desiree Garcia Neil Amsler Gabrielle Plonka Cloe Logan Cameron Thomson Lisa Steacy Agazy Mengesha Darren Amner Mandy Moraes Joe Ayres Patrick Penner Kirsten Clarke Kathryn Tindale Mathilda de Villiers Alberto Tufano Roxanne Egan-Ellictt © Nathan Durec Kelsea Franzke Nathan Gan Katelynn Gardiner Shabnam Jessa Nicholas Laba Adam Levi Rena Medow CONTACT US Online at langaravoice.ca Barry Link Twitter @langaraVoice