Break the Cycle

I promise this will be a short hop on the soapbox.

Canada has found itself in a federal election this spring. It will be the fourth since 2004. That fact alone paints a very divisive picture of our country. So it's no surprise that a lot of people are tuned out. The reasons I hear are common and, in a way, not unreasonable; none of the major party leaders resonate, unfamiliarity with the issues, a sense that heir vote is unimportant (because after all, the big parties aren't THAT different - the last government led by the Liberal Party fell due largely in part to the sponsorship scandal, and this Conservative government has been found in contempt of parliament).

I wouldn't throw my endorsement behind anyone at this stage, for many reasons. But I would like to make a recommendation, especially if you've found yourself deeply unmotivated by this election.

As important as it is to get familiar with the platforms of each federal party, for the people who aren't finding much to get excited about there, I implore you to visit the websites of, or otherwise learn about, the candidates running in your riding. Learn as much as you can, and give your vote to the person - the MP - who you believe will best represent you in Ottawa.

Many people simply vote for a party when it comes to these things - meaning they don't pay much attention to their local representation, just the big debates and issues of the party leaders. But that's not how a robust democracy should work. More emphasis needs to be placed on the person who represents you - because it is their job to convey what you want out of your government to their party leader.

I've spouted a lot of the criticisms that I hear coming from most people these days - especially younger voters who sense a lot of disconnection in the major party leaders. Party politics will figure into your decisions, but please try and factor in your local MP. I may be an idealist - but I strongly believe that if more voters did this, and did so honestly, then the make-up of our parliament wold change drastically. And that would be a very good thing, no matter what party you favour.

(Every major news outlet will have their election coverage running at full throttle now - so just pick your flavour, really. If you have the time, read or watch more than one source of news, since every outlet is biased, in one way or another)