Christopher and Carolyn Phillips live in a new subdivision in London, Ontario, near one of the hardest-hit manufacturing regions in Canada. Chris, 32, works in sales and belongs to the United Church. Carolyne, 31, is a Catholic stay-at-home mom of two daughters, Charlotte, 4, and Chloé, 17 months. Candidates in London North Centre are Green Mary Ann Hodge; Liberal Glen Pearson; Conservative Paul Van Meerbergen; and NDPer Steve Holmes.

Q: How would you describe your political involvement?

Carolyne: I like to stay in formed by watching the news, reading about issues on the internet as well as working at the actual election as a Deputy Returning Officer.

Q: What is exciting to you about this federal campaign?

Carolyne: That the NDP might actual have a chance in this election.

Q: Does anything about this campaign make you scared or uneasy?

Carolyne: The current response to the manufacturing decline in South Western Ontario.

Q: Which campaign promises resonates with you, and why?

Carolyne: The promise of an increase of family doctors and an increase to the Universal Child Tax benefit. There are so many people that are in need of a family doctor have to go to the emergency room for common colds and ailments, that take away from the ER doctor’s time which create long wait times for those of us who really need the ER for actual emergencies.

Q: What issues that are important to your family are getting missed or underplayed by the parties?

Carolyne: None

Q: In 2006, the Conservatives started giving all families with children under 6 $100 a month per child. In 2008, the NDP is promising between $250 and $40 per child, up to 18 years. The Liberals are promising $100 per child to age 6 ($200 for low-income families), and $350 per child once a year. The Conservatives are promising the $100 again. And the Greens would cancel the $100 cheques. What do you think of direct-to-family cash?

Carolyne: As a current recipient of what we like to call the “Harper Hundred” I am in favour of the program. It allows us to enroll Charlotte in classes that we otherwise couldn’t afford.

Q: What do you think of the Liberal `Green Shift`?

Carolyne: From what I can make out off of the Liberal parties website, I believe that it is a good idea. We really only have one environment and we need to be proactive about taking care of it. Even if in the end we will have to pay more taxes one way or the other.

Q: What do you think of the Conservative plan to get tough on crime?

Carolyne: Again, from what I’ve read on the Conservative party website the changes that they are proposing make sense and seem to be needed. The current laws have not “changed with the times” like the crimes and criminals themselves.

Q: What do you think of the NDPs promise of a universal, affordable, accessible childcare system?

Carolyne: Truly, anything that helps the middle income families and families in general with the cost and accessibility of childcare is a welcome change.

Q: Stéphane Dion and Steven Harper are sparing over who the better leader is. How important to you is electing someone with a charismatic leadership style?

Carolyne: I think that it is human nature to gravitate to someone who has more charisma. In the end it shouldn’t be important to anyone but in the end it is.

Q: What do you think Canada’s role should be in Afghanistan?

Carolyne: Canadians are known for peace keeping and I think that they should be there to do just that.

Q: What would make Canada’s federal electoral process better, or is it okay the way it is?

Carolyne: I think that it is okay the way it is.

Q: This fall, would you rather be voting for Canada’s politicians, or the American’s?

Carolyne: Both, I would feel more confident if I could vote in both elections.