What Happens Now?

In less than 24 hours, we will know how Canadians have decided to shape their government. There are the main issues to consider as voters cast their ballots. Who will protect universal health care? Who stands for an independent foreign policy? Who stands for improving environmental protection? Who will improve access to post-secondary education? Who will work with the provinces to ensure adequate funding and standards are met for various social programs, as many of them fall under provincial jurisdiction? Who will stand up for First Nations and ensure that they can shape their own future? This list is far from comprehensive, and I could easily think of more questions if I was so inclined.

However, the important aspect which comes into play on the 24th is often unstated. By now, the campaign signs are down, the Prime Minister prepares to contemplate his or her vision for the upcoming session of Parliament, and the party leaders, workers, and volunteers get to sleep for the first time in weeks. Is that it? Will the parties and politicians pack everything away, waiting for next time?

There are several reasons, as mentioned in previous posts, why people feel cynical about politics. For many, the only time they hear from politicians is during an election campaign, and we've been conditioned to think of democracy primarily as voting every few years. It's pretty easy to not feel inspired by marking an X on a piece of paper. Yet democracy is about more than that. It's about the idea of citizens having a role in shaping policies affecting their lives. To that extent, politicians and partisans have an opportunity to play an important role. They have the opportunity to educate people about issues, to communicate to people what is happening and what the government plans to do, and to advocate for the issues the people feel are important. It's a call to making connections and building communities, and above all, showing people how their involvement in the process makes a difference at the end of the day. It's an ongoing process that must happen continuously, during both election and non-election periods.