Local moms gather to talk politics over a pint

As voting day rapidly approaches, Londoners are gathering to talk about the federal election campaign and the issues that matter most to them.

On Monday, the non-partisan parent advocacy group Moms Together held an election chat pub night at London Brewing Co-operative in London's Old East Village.

The aim of the event, and others across Canada, is helping moms "understand how the decisions they make every day are inherently political, and they should be part of the political process." said Marie Rioux, the group's project lead.

"We're definitely starting to feel a lot of mobilization from folks that weren't there before."

Affordability, housing, and the climate were main issues cited in a survey the group conducted of Canadian moms, Rioux said. Making time to go to the ballot box was the biggest barrier keeping moms from voting, she added.

"We wanted to create a space for them to have the conversations that they needed to have to get the information they needed, so they could go make an informed vote."

Monday's gathering is a kickoff event for the group, with more planned in other cities, she said.

CBC London spoke with a few of the participants at Monday's pub night to hear what issues are important to them.

Name: Leo Baszak

Occupation: Kindergarten teacher with the Thames Valley District School Board

Priority election issues: Affordability and housing

"As a teacher, I see a lot of my students come to school with not enough food in their tummies or not enough in their lunches," Baszak said. "I know that a lot of parents right now are really stretched as far as they can to make ends meet."

This election, Baszak said they were leaning toward the NDP, and that, "from the other parties, I'm just not seeing enough."

"They're focused on other issues that are important. But for me, personally, and what matters to me, I think that, in terms of affordability and housing, I trust the NDP the most."

Whoever wins, Baszak hopes they listen to the Canadians who have the least, and are "thinking about what we can do to help the people who are the most vulnerable right now."

Name: Maureen Cullen

Occupation: Assistant professor at Mount Royal University and PhD student at Western University

Priority election issues: Canadian sovereignty and 2SLGBTQ+ rights

"For me, I think the most important thing is about voting smart. Unfortunately, I feel like we can't vote for necessarily what our heart says," Cullen said.

"The Number One issue that I'm voting for and about is for young people, for trans folks, for folks in our queer community. I really think it's important that we focus on making this a better place for young folks."

While she's leaning toward the Liberals, Cullen says she's "certainly not a fan girl for any particular party," having voted Green, Liberal, and NDP previously.

"I'm not a party supporter, typically. I am a, I would say, a policy person. I'm more concerned about policy than I am about party."

Name: Katie Dean

Occupation: Co-founder of Viewer Discretion Legislation Coalition, a group which opposes graphic anti-abortion images in public.

Priority election issues: 2SLGBTQ+ rights and reproductive rights

The mother of a trans child, Dean says she is specifically concerned about comments Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has made about trans issues in the past.

"I feel like they have come so far in those kinds of equality and equal rights and things like that, and ability to become who they know they are," she said. "I think the Liberals and NDP are aware that those are important issues that need to continue to evolve and not go backwards."

Regardless of who wins, it's important that politicians be available to their constituents, Dean added.

"I want them to be available for conversations, even the hard ones, even on things that maybe they don't agree with, but they're listening and keeping an open mind and open ears."