A recent visit to the dentist was painful in a whole new way. My dentist and her assistant were having a chat while I lay silenced by a rubber dam over my mouth.聽
The assistant asked somewhat befuddled, 鈥淚s there an election coming up? I think I heard something about it.鈥澛燤y dentist winced but kept her composure. 鈥淵es, there is a on Oct. 21. 鈥淥h,鈥� replied the assistant giggling, 鈥淚 don鈥檛 usually vote.鈥�
You don鈥檛 vote?! I wanted to scream as the suction tube found the side of my cheek. Are you kidding me? You鈥檙e an educated, middle-aged woman and you don鈥檛 vote. What is wrong with people I thought as I choked on my own disbelief?
I shouldn鈥檛 be surprised. Only an average of 62 per cent of Canadians vote. We came out in bigger numbers for the 2015 federal election at 68.5 per cent, most likely to make sure Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper was removed from power.
The World Atlas says of all the democratic countries in the world, Canada rates number 19, between Greece and Hungary, for voter turnout. That鈥檚 just not good enough.聽
The conversation took a quick turn to fashionable prime ministers like former PM John Turner who was known for his fancy ties and our present PM鈥檚 colourful socks. Fashion sense should not be an election issue, but let鈥檚 face it, this election campaign is boring.
Candidates are making unrealistic promises, like offering tax cuts while increasing social programs, providing cheaper housing, free daycare and free pharmacare. At every whistle stop along the campaign trail it feels like one fantastical promise after another.
There鈥檚 one election issue that stands out for me. How do the political parties plan to address climate change while protecting our environment and our economy? I don鈥檛 want unrealistic promises that disappear once a leader is elected.聽I would like to see an environmental plan that is practical, economical and efficient.
I鈥檓 impressed the Delta Naturalists Society is taking its concerns directly to our local candidates running to be our next MP. The society has organizedThursday night (Oct. 10) at KinVillage strictly on environmental issues.
There will be national questions about wilderness conservation, pollution, water and climate change, but most importantly are the local questions with answers that will affect us here in our own neighbourhoods.
Candidates will be asked what they are going to do about raising the dikes along our waterways so we are.聽With the possibility of coming to Tilbury, if there was a spill or a release how would we deal with that? Burns Bog continues to be , and what about which are in peril? Plus what are the implications of a second terminal for Roberts Bank.聽
I will be moderating the all-candidates meeting, which will run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Please attend if you can. I will be interested in all the candidates鈥� answers and you should be too.聽
Ingrid Abbott is a freelance broadcaster and writer who encourages everyone to get out and vote because it鈥檚 a privilege.
