Election day is coming and something I have noticed, especially in my constituency, is that none of the candidates are making an effort. I have seen many posts on social media sites asking who is running in our area, and as someone who votes in every election, this is concerning to me.
There used to be a time when the candidates would travel throughout their ridings, walk with their constituents, talking to them about what mattered the most. They would shake hands with the farmers, roll out pie dough with the church ladies and read stories to the children at the libraries. Now, we only see their faces on the mailers they pay to have printed, only to be left behind in the post office garbage cans.
As a voter, I want to make a connection with the candidates. Sure, they may look good on paper, but I want to see them in action. I watch for the little things, mannerisms that may not stick out to others. I watch their body language, their ability to speak to a crowd, if they can answer a question without too many hesitations. I want someone to represent the strength and tenacity of our province and our electoral district.
Now, I have to say many of the candidates in our last provincial election did a much better job of canvassing the area than their federal counterparts. It was great to see them attending some of our major events; in fact, two of them even traveled to Senlac for the annual gun show. They showed the voters they cared about the smaller communities and were willing to talk to everyone, not just the bigwigs at some major corporations.
With what our nation is facing currently, this election has been deemed one of the more important votes in our lifetime. I have noticed more of the constituents are reminding each other to go out and vote, but it should be our candidates reminding us. If we cannot make that connection with those who are running, what incentive do we have to cast our ballots?
When voters see who is running, they are more energized and eager to vote. They feel they know who they are voting for and get a better sense of which party aligns with their values. We want someone who is going to show up for us in the House of Commons, be our voice, be the face of our constituency. We need someone whom we can put our trust in, each and every time. We want a strong representation for the people and the goods and services we provide to the rest of our province and nation. We want to be recognized for our contributions to the country.
For instance, you would not hire just anyone to watch your children when you need a sitter. You search for the right sitter, the one who will listen to your concerns, the one who is capable of cooking a meal if needed, the one who will interact with your child. Our Member of Parliament should be sought out in a similar fashion.
But when voters don’t know who is running, they are less likely to head to the polls. We all know a change is needed in our country and the only way we will get that change is if people get down to the polling stations to cast their ballots. Let’s show these candidates we want to see their faces, hear their voices and shake their hands. They should be working for our votes, not just getting a free pass.
