The actual piece of paper on which voters mark an 'X' in the circle next to the candidate of their choice.

an individual's personal selection of the candidate of his or her choice (in Canada, it's done by secret ballot)

The costs of living, especially in Canada's biggest cities, have risen so dramatically that often both parents need to work full-time.

These costs are not covered under Canada's healthcare system.

Minimum wage: a fixed amount ($15.20 per hour in BC); living wage: how much a worker would need to earn to have a minimal level of comfort.

refers to how much tax a corporation pays the government...often substantially lower than small business or individual taxes

handguns, assault weapons, corruption, etc...

a formally-organized group of citizens who support the same ideas about how best to organize and govern a province or the country.

Answers could include: obligatory, non-voluntary, mandated...

the amount of money, goods and supplies a country provides to developing nations

...in which voters choose which party will form the next federal (nation-wide) government by electing their local Members of Parliament to the House of Commons

...voters choose local civic leaders: mayor, city council members, etc

Decrease it...the deficit is the government's debt. The costs of the pandemic have greatly increased Canada's federal deficit.