It’s been a quiet election process in this neck of the woods, with barely a political sign in sight.
In towns up and down the Fraser Valley, bright, bold splashes of orange, blue, green and red have added a bit of spring colour to an otherwise wet and dreary April. They yell out, loud and clear, who your neighbours support.
But in Agassiz, you wouldn’t be faulted for not realizing an election is just a few days away. We’re not saying that a lack of signs on lawns and in business windows are the only indicator of a town’s political savviness. But throwing a plastic or cardboard placard up on the grass is one of the easiest ways to support your potential MP.
And candidates? Rare as hen’s teeth.
One poked her head in this newspaper’s office here last week, smiled and dropped a flyer off before heading out to knock on doors.
Another called this Monday, clarifying the deadline for the Q&A featured in this edition. Campaign managers are busy booking ads, and candidates are hustling all over the riding. But in a riding so large, many of the candidates have said they just can’t make it to every event.
Conservative candidate Mark Strahl held a last-minute public meeting earlier this month, and Green Party leader Elizabeth May’s whistle stop tour across western Canada had her in Agassiz for a split second late one Sunday night.
An All Candidates Meeting was held in Harrison Mills on Monday night with the hopes of the public questioning the six candidates. But again, the event was at the last minute, and unadvertised (see front page story).
Will this seemingly low key campaign translate into voter apathy? Maybe it’s not too late to heat things up around here.
When election day comes on May 2, will you find yourself standing in a polling station? Do you know the candidates well enough to vote for him or her? And finally, are you ready to weather your choice through the next few political seasons?
– Agassiz Harrison Observer
