As we launch our #whyIvote campaign to try and get more eligible voters engaged in the Nov. 15 civic election, we are prompted to also ask: Why don't you vote?
Most studies reveal that folks either feel like their vote won't matter or make a difference, or they simply don't care enough.
Which leads us to the question: Why don't people care about civic government? They seem to care if their garbage isn't picked up, if their taxes are hiked, if their kids have a soccer field to play on, if their dog has a dog park to play in, and if the firefighter makes it to their house in time when it's on fire. They certainly notice if a new stop sign goes up on their street, or a speed bump comes out. And, of course, parents of school-age children care if their kids are learning about the birds and bees and LGBT issues, or learning how to play the clarinet in band class.
While the provincial government doles some taxpayer cash to municipal governments, it is the local city councillors and mayor who call the shots on an incredible number of things that directly impact residents' quality of life here in Burnaby. While school districts are completely dependent on provincial money, school boards determine what policies and programs go live or get the axe. Yes, federal governments set the rules for a lot of things that overlap with provincial and municipal governments. You only have to read the daily headlines to see the battles for who handles what and who gets cash to pay for what. It's just one big endless tug-of-war.
And we understand that witnessing all the political battles is enough to make any potential voter throw their hands up in the air. But if we took that approach to everything in life, we'd never do anything. There are endless reasons to be cynical about everything - including politics.
Seriously, if only about one in five eligible voters vote, then that means, even in the best of circumstances, a minority is determining how we are governed. That is very scary stuff in a city like Burnaby.
