The election’s been called, the candidates are campaigning, and most Canadians have no idea who to vote for – the Liberals have shot themselves in the foot with scandal after scandal and too many years, according to some, in office; the Conservatives (the political party formerly known as Alliance, formerly known as Reform, formerly known as...) appear to be The New Great Hope to some and the death knell for glbt rights and other minority rights to others; the New Democrat Party plugs along in third place as per usual, but does seem to be swinging up somewhat in the polls – whether they can garner enough support from disgruntled Liberals and former Progressive Conservatives to actually form any sort of power base in Parliament, let alone the government, is anybody’s guess; the Green Party occupies the position once held by the NDP – a lefty fringe party with no real chance at power but able to play the role of the thorn in the paw of the Federal Lion.
What’s the average citizen to do? Well, not voting is not a great option. The right to vote is a hard won and crucial element of democracy. If you don’t vote, then you really can’t say much about the government that does get into power. If Joe and Jane Citizen abdicate their right to vote it’s a slippery slope to all sorts of political evils. Totalitarianism. One party State. Oppression. Not in Canada, you say? One hopes not, but other nations said the same thing and it happened there.
Whichever party you vote for one can only hope you do so based on issues of importance to you and support the party/candidate that most closely reflects those values.
If glbt issues are high on your scale but you are unsure what position various candidates, or their respective parties, have taken on those issues you can find out by logging onto www.egale.ca, which has a comprehensive rating system of all the incumbent candidates and commentary on their voting record on such issues as equal marriage, the amendment to the hate propaganda section of Criminal Code (C-250), and other issues.
The Canadians For Equal Marriage Coalition (www.equal-marriage.ca) also has a questionnaire posted that was sent to incumbents and new candidates around the issue of same-sex marriage.
As a community we are in a crucial time and it is imperative we have a government that honours the advancements we have made and the ones we still struggle to achieve. Rights are only as good as the electorate who maintains them. While rights are inherent, the recognition of those rights can be taken away if citizens don’t remain vigilant and take their role in the operation of our democracy seriously.
Ask your candidates where they stand on the issues and press them for a commitment to glbt and other minority rights. You are the one who controls their destiny, not the other way around. Your vote matters. The most awe-inspiring building is built one brick at a time. Your vote is that brick.
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Contributor Stephen Lock |
Topic Politics |
