Despite a slow start to the day, lines were building at polling stations as the 7 p.m. deadline loomed.
Langford resident Steven Blaikie was very clear on why he came out to cast a ballot.
“If you don’t vote, you can’t complain about what the government does,” he said. “I just like to have a say in who runs our country.”
Blaikie, along with another Langford resident, Kristian Harvie, cast their ballots Monday afternoon before stopping to speak with Black Press Media.
“I always vote, I think it’s one of our rights and we should fulfill it,” Harvie said.
“I think a lot of the politics (in Canada) is way too regional,” he explained, noting he doesn’t think any of the party leaders represent western Canadians.
Outside the Savory Elementary School voting station, Harvie said he supports energy but wants the next prime minister to address climate change and bring changes to the logging industry.
“I think they’re cutting down way too much,” he said.
Harvie also wants to see mental health be treated as a health care issue.
Polls opened at 7 a.m. in the Cowichan–Malahat–Langford riding with a new federal government expected to be named Monday night in Canada’s 44th federal election.
The main parties vying for the 338 seats in the House of Commons are Justin Trudeau’s Liberals, Erin O’Toole’s Conservatives, Jagmeet Singh’s New Democrats, Annamie Paul’s Greens, Yves-François Blanchet’s Bloc Quebecois and Maxime Bernier’s People’s Party of Canada.
Who is running in Cowichan–Malahat–Langford?
- Alistair MacGregor, NDP
- Alana DeLong, Conservative
- Blair Herbert, Liberal
- Lia Versaevel, Green
- Mark Hecht, People’s Party of Canada
Polls in Greater Victoria closed at 7 p.m.
READ MORE: Cowichan–Malahat–Langford candidates speak out on housing, climate and COVID-19
READ MORE: Election 2021 – Who are your Greater Victoria candidates?
READ MORE: Cowichan–Malahat–Langford
Where you can vote:
To find out your local poll location, visit the Elections Canada website and type in your street address. Alternatively, Canadians can look at your voter registration card. Voters can only visit their specified polling location.
Elections Canada has warned that due to staffing shortages from the pandemic, some voters may experience a wait to cast their ballot.
Masks are mandatory in polling locations, but proof of vaccine is not required.
READ MORE: A guide to casting your federal election ballot in Greater Victoria
For Elections Canada’s FAQ page for questions such as what kind of identification to bring, click here.
Check out our website and Facebook page for full coverage of the results once polls close.
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