Young candidate plans to bring new ideas
[attach]4812[/attach]Khalid Ahmed isn’t going to let his age get in the way of him running in provincial politics.
The 19-year-old NDP candidate for Don Valley West says he sees his age as more of an asset in the upcoming race.
“A lot of parents and grandparents want a better life for their children and grandchildren,” he says. “I’m here to bring new ideas, with future generations in mind.”
Canvassing for the past three months, Ahmed says he’s received positive feedback from people at the door.
“People have been really supportive. They love to see someone so young involved in politics because they don’t see that very often,” Ahmed says. “One person even told me, ‘What’s parliament going to look like in 20 years if youths today aren’t interested?’ ”
Ahmed’s interest in politics came to him last year as he considered what to do with his life after completing high school.
“I’m a person who likes to help people. At the time, I wasn’t entirely sure how to do that,” he says. “As a joke, my dad told me to become a politician.”
It wasn’t entirely a laughing matter to Ahmed, who volunteered with Jack Layton’s campaign.
“I joined the NDP because the party ties in well with my personal values,” he says. “I grew up in a middle-class family with six siblings. I felt that this party really puts everyday people and everyday families first.”
Having resided in the riding for over 12 years, Ahmed says there’s much to be changed, especially in terms of youth crimes.
“I would like to see crime rates going down,” he says. “Our youths need to be discouraged from drugs and crime, and we have to help them.
“A good way to do this is by building more community services.”
As a past volunteer for the youth centre at Thorncliffe Park, Ahmed says children can always benefit from more proactive programs and activities.
Should the election go in his favour, Ahmed says he will heartily promote the NDP’s platform while also continuing his education. He plans to study criminology and law at either Seneca College or University of Ontario Institute of Technology.
