The preliminaries are over. The jousting has ended.
Now the real campaign begins.
For those already weary of the political posturing, the unabashed partisan advertising, and the daily (hourly) deluge of government announcements and inevitable opposition critiques, the 28-day-campaign may already seem tiresome.
But it shouldn’t.
Democracy may not be pretty, but it is important.
And it takes work.
Over the next four weeks we have an obligation to learn what we can about the candidates vying for our votes, and the parties they represent. We need to dig past the rhetoric and unearth the specifics of their policies and priorities – all while avoiding the mud that’s sure to be thrown.
That means asking questions, and not being satisfied with party platitudes that offer no substance. We want answers tailored to the ridings of Chilliwack and Chilliwack-Kent. We want to know specifically what each candidate will do to address issues like housing affordability, local job creation, overcrowding in Chilliwack schools, addictions and mental health, access to health care, environmental protection and agricultural support.
We don’t want to know why we shouldn’t vote for the opposing candidates. We want to know why those seeking our vote believe they deserve it.
Armed with the information we acquire over the next 28 days, we’ll be better equipped to make an informed choice on election day.
Because while voting is our responsibility, so too is doing it intelligently and not impulsively.
