On Your Mark, Get Set, Campaign!

Last week, Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin lost a confidence vote in Parliament, forcing the country into an election campaign, with a date set for January 23, 2006.

Even though my own mind is made up, I refuse to explicitly state who I intend to vote for, however those familiar with Canadian politics should be able to guess with reasonable confidence based both on my prior comments and the links on the righthand side.

However, I believe I can make a meaningful contribution to the election with this campaign. There is a new section of links dealing with the federal election, which will be removed upon the end of the campaign. Media links from CTV, CanwestGlobal, and LaPresse will provide a wide range of options for campaign information, and is a great addition to election information readers can already get through the CBC and Radio-Canada. I have posted a list of all registered political parties to present readers with all the options. Since I live in Brandon, I have also posted links to local candidates, although this portion will need to be updated throughout the campaign. Elections Canada will also come in handy, and if you're a first-time voter, recently moved, won't be in your riding on election day, don't know where your riding is or which candidates are running, or need general information, this is a good site to sort through. I have also added a permanent link to Fair Vote Canada, where you can receive information detailing how our electoral system distorts the vote and about lobbying to change that.

People tend to cover their ears when they hear about politics these days, and I don't blame them. The reasons are many, whether it's that politicians all the same, or their vote doesn't count. Why will voting change anything? Yet, I believe it's important to be involved in political processes, for the simple reason that not being involved concedes ground to those people abusing the political system for their own gain. And now, more than ever, individual votes matter. Last spring, the smallest party, the NDP, managed to pass a budget through Parliament, a budget that still would not have passed without the support of BC Independant Chuck Cadman. This was during a Parliamentary session where the balance of power was so delicate that a change in one seat changed the dynamics completely, and it's still unclear how the balance of power will work out. When you consider that there are many close races throughout Canada, this leaves open many possibilities, and Canadians have a real role in shaping the next government. I encourage all Canadian readers to play that role.