It's time to cast your ballot -- twice

It’s for real now. Kings-Hants voters are headed to the polls for the Oct. 14 general election; not exactly a surprise after the political posturing we’ve collectively witnessed over the past few months.

But let’s not forget the Oct. 18 municipal elections, which occur across the province every four years.

The federal election will determine what our country will take over the next four years or more. The campaign will identify what we think are the most important matters we face as a society – the slowing North American economy, the environment and other issues.

In King-Hants, Liberal MP Scott Brison is the incumbent, with Carol Harris representing the NDP, and Brendan MacNeill the Green Party. The Tories have not held their nomination meeting yet.

Nationally, factors appear to include party leadership, and the prime minister’s likeability.

Barring a sharp upswing in fatalities, the Afghan mission and other defense matters appear pretty well stayed, as are health care and Quebec sovereignty matters.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Tories want a majority with which to deal with the economy and to bring about their policies.

The election is a year ahead of the scheduled vote by a new law introduced, in fact, by the Tories.

Harper has said he would call the election because Parliament was dysfunctional – despite the number of things accomplished over the past two and a half years.

He cited committee dysfunction as the problem.

From here -- given the behind-the-scenes nature of these Parliamentary committees -- we have no alternative but to take him at his word. Plus the fact that everyone at the party leadership level appears to have been edging toward an election for some months.

As for other Tory ‘promises’ not followed through over the term -- the income trust matter turned out to have been the right decision, and the Atlantic off-shore agreements with Newfoundland and Nova Scotia turned out at least neutral.

Regardless of what Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams is saying.

The Liberals Stephane Dion has turned up the heat on the economy and continued poverty in the country -- somewhat deemphasizing the party’s Green Shift, which has seen some major fine-tuning.

Jack Layton’s NDP has come out swinging, pushing family concerns, and leadership.

Layton is running a distant second to Harper in polls as a strong leader. Dion is seen by many as weak and indecisive.

The federal election is the big picture. But the rubber hits the tarmac elsewhere.

Let’s not use the federal general election as an excuse to ignore the contemporary municipal campaigns taking place.

East Hants, West Hants, Windsor and Hantsport will be seeing campaigns and balloting about local matters – how communities and regions will be governed and operated. This includes such things as what land uses will be sought and permitted where and beside what.

We caution municipal voters and candidates not to slowdown or ignore local scene in favor of the national campaigns, or the contest in the United States. It means the municipal politicians have to work all the harder, in case the electorate develops voters’ fatigue.

So, let’s get out and vote, twice.

And we will have the rest of the fall and winter to rest up before it could well be tie for a provincial general election.

It seems a citizen’s duties at the ballot box never cease.