Arati Sharma, a student at McMaster University, wrote this column in the Hamilton Spectator about education as the top issue in the federal election. She argues that higher education is crucial to creating a better society for all classes and backgrounds.

“If we are serious about allowing each member of our community to achieve their dreams, we need to support the access agenda,” she writes. “We need to ensure that young children are not afraid to pursue higher education due to debt aversion and unrealistic costs of education.”

Sharma asks readers to question parties about their student loan programs and the steps they would take to help wipe out student debt.