It's up to the electorate now

Now that the Leaders’ debates on television and local federal candidates’ forums have concluded, it’s time for voters to roll up their sleeves and get busy.

As much as politicians like to think it’s all about them, the fact is it’s all about you. Your vote will determine the next government in this country - whether majority of minority - and who will lead the nation.

It doesn’t sound like much, does it? One little vote. The truth is, however, every vote counts, especially in this election.

Few Canadians wanted to go to the polls, but Stephen Harper covets a majority and thought that calling an election was the best way to get it.

The campaign has been nasty and downright dirty, with attack ads and character assassination the order of the day. We can’t recall a campaign in recent memory that has featured such negative inquiry into the histories of this candidate or that one or so many verbal miscues by seemingly intelligent individuals interested in obtaining our vote, but clearly unable to prevent putting their foot in their mouth.

Locally, plenty of information was afforded from candidate forums in Windsor, Wolfville and Auburn, although each event provided as much political theatre as real insight into the respective platform.

Regardless, use what you’ve learned. The forums gave us a chance to meet the candidates and get a sense of who they are, where they’re coming from and how they’ll represent us in Ottawa.

Unfortunately, more and more elections are popularity contests, and policy be damned. So you have the Conservatives slamming Dion as a weak leader, the Liberals telling anyone who will listen that Harper can’t be trusted and the New Democrats decrying both of them in favour of Jack Layton, who says he’s applying for Harper’s job.

Literally billions of dollars have been promised to fund one thing or another and, frankly, it’s all a bit dizzying if local electoral buzz is any indication. There are too many splinters in each plank and funding is so specific to various sectors that you need a scorecard to keep pace with who’s paying for what (and why).

The good news is we’re very nearly there, and herein lays the fundamental power of the public. If you have a vote, you have a say.

Use it. Approximately 2.3 million Canadians who were eligible to vote in the last federal election didn’t, and that’s the difference between a majority and minority Parliament.

Take the time over the next week to drill into this campaign and work hard to sort the stuff from the guff. Set aside the ridiculous attacks and antics and put the meat on the bones.

Who has campaigned with dignity? Which party offers a comprehensive social and economic plan that will take this nation into the 21st century? Who provides the greatest good for the most people, regardless of partisan politics and personal agenda?

If you can answer some of these questions, you’re well on your way to an informed decision.

That’s empowerment, and the ultimate value of a democracy. We have the ability to choose the government we get and it all begins by marking an X. We urge each of you to exercise your authority and cast a ballot. Particularly now, because the nation needs your support.