Don’t get me wrong - I feel very strongly about our government, its MPs and MLAs, elections and the business of the day, and I encourage everyone to get involved in politics on a regular basis, not just at election time.
It just that election promises... ? C’mon.
The only promise I want to hear from a candidate or a party leader is to be open, honest and fair in all things and to govern for the benefit of every single person in Canada.
The rest is just talk, and talk is cheap. (Although, it can be entertaining as well, right before an election.)
Election promises are all about words; what the candidates and parties have been doing since the last election is all about action.
I was raised believing that actions speak louder than words.
Personally, I’m not terribly impressed with how any of the party leaders have been conducting themselves over the past few years, nor do I find platforms determined by polls to be appealing.
Those of us in large ridings like Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon know that one concentrated pocket of voters can determine an election - and perhaps even priorities - even though their views and their needs don’t line up with everyone else in the riding.
Did you know that we have 17 registered federal political parties, including the top five contenders?
If you are confused on what party best represents your views, CBC has put together an interesting tool called Vote Compass.
It asks you for your opinion on a number of political issues and gives you an idea of where you stand on the political map by comparing your answers with the platforms put forward by each of the political parties.
- www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadavotes2011/votecompass/
If nothing else, it will get you thinking about some of the issues and how you would like to se them addressed by the candidates.
Wendy Coomber is editor of the Ashcroft-Cache Creek Journal