Today is decision day for the Federal Election in Canada. No more robocalls or un-solicited texts (both of which are permitted as federal elections are exempt from Canada's anti-spam laws).
Now if you are an employee or an employer, please keep in mind you must have three consecutive hours to vote. With the polls closing at early as 7 pm in BC and as late as 9:30 pm in the east. Click here for voting hours based on the area (from Elections Canada). When you head to your assigned polling station, please wear a mask, allow for extra time (due to COVID-19 protocol) and your own pen or pencil as well as your voting card plus one piece of Government-issued ID, or if you don't have your voter card, please Click here for a list of alternate ID.
My father's advice was that only those who voted could complain! So, please get out and vote as if you do not. You are leaving your hard-earned tax dollars for other people to decide how they are spent. Please do your research and remember that sure your vote determines the next Prime Minister of Canada, but it also affects your local area's representation in Ottawa. Your Member of Parliament is your representative and who can bring benefits to your area.
While making electoral promises were made by every party, make sure you read between the lines. Is it just a promise, or will you see it come to fruition during the MP or Parties' time in parliament? It is not uncommon for promises to are budgeted in the second term (after the four years the MP or Party term ends), which is a long-shot promise with the MP or Party hoping you either won't notice.
It appears from analysts that the outcome looks like a minority government (meaning no party will obtain the required 272 MP seats). The question is if the electoral map will look like after tonight. The cost for this election was over $610 Million dollars – could that money have been spent better as the sole purpose of this election was to obtain a majority.
While the $610 Million has already been spent on this election, do your part, research your local candidate, research the federal party. Ask yourself the following:
- What is my local MP pledging for my area? Is there a game plan, and what is the timeline for these promises?
- The MP you are voting for belongs (except for a very small percentage of independents) to a Federal Party, and what are the party's promises? What is the timeline of the promises, and can the promises be fulfilled in a minority government (meaning that enough MP's other than the Parties must also agree)?
One last thought, typically in a four-year term, our Federal Government spends about 3.2 billion dollars or roughly $108,000 for each Canadian Taxpayer, about the equivalent of an expensive high-end vehicle. Wouldn't you do some research before spending $108,000?
