WonderCafe is featuring a series of interviews with families about their thoughts on the upcoming Federal election. See the Features section for more updates from around the country.. --Ed.

Stephanie Yee’s family lives in Richmond, a thriving suburb of Vancouver that’s a mix of Hong Kong-style malls, farmland, urban sprawl, and quaint seaside communities. She’s a 34-year-old stay-at-home mom. Her husband is Mark Yee, a Canadian border guard. Their daughters are Katlyn, 3, and Emma, 3. The candidates for Richmond are Liberal Raymond Chan, Conservative Alice Wong, NDPer Dale Jackaman, Green Michael Anthony Wolfe, and two independants: Wei Ping Chen and Dobie Yiu-Chung To.

Q: How would you describe your political involvement?

Stephanie: “My political involvement is minor. I read newpapers, follow debates on line or on tv thats about it.”

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

Stephanie: “I wouldn't say it's exciting, but I am very interested in what the parties will do for the the enviroment compared to what they say on the campaign trail.”

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

Stephanie: “I don't know enough about it I guess to make me uneasy. I feel like someone out of middle America who goes in blindly and votes without knowing the consequence of my actions.”

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

Stephanie: “The environment, health care, taxes, and crime. These are all issues they seem to have made promises on in past and present elections, but in the end nothing really changes. But, as I said before I am interested to see what changes comes for the the enviroment out of this election.”

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

Stephanie: “We have no affordable daycare. I am a stay at home mom because I have to be. We can't afford daycare. For both our kids to go to daycare in our neighbourhood, we are looking at paying $1,600 a month. That’s about as much as I would make working. So really, why pay someone else my entire salary to raise my kids for me? This at what would be a combined salary of over $100,000 for both my husband and myself. Then take into consideration those who make less than we do and you have no choice for daycare. Daycare in Quebec is a subsidized $20 a day. This is what I would call affordable daycare for all.”

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?

Stephanie: “I think it is a poor way of handling money that could be spent on the framework for a real child care solution.”

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

Stephanie: “I feel it is an attempt to save a party that is riddled with corruption and ignorance. Well I guess that is all parties. Hard to believe I was a true blue Liberal until the last election.”

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

Stephanie: “If they do what they say I think it could reverse the increase in organized crime in Canada. It’s so far out of control, I don't know if it can be changed. I also like that they are looking at revising the useless youth crimminal code, but since both of us are in law enforcement we might be a little biased.”

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

Stephanie: “I think it would be amazing. Again if they follow through and it is accessable to all and isn't left on the table until the next election.”

Q: Stephane Dion and Steven Harper are sparing over who the better leader is. How important to you is electing someone with a chasimatic leadership style? Stephanie: “I don't care if they are charming or charismatic, as long as they truely care about our country and is actually trying to make it better.”

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

Stephanie: “I don't think we should be there in the first place. Pull out before Canada is part of the end result which will never end well.”

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

Stephanie: “I hate the fact the fact that we vote for a party, not a single person. You may like the candidate for Prime Minister but hate the representative in your riding.”

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

Stephanie: Definitley the Americans! Yeah Joe Biden and Barack Obama!