When most people think municipal elections, their feelings are often best summed up by a big yawn followed by a quick nap. Many Canadians are so disinterested in local politics that they can’t even name their mayor, let alone their city or regional councilors. But you know what? You should care about local politics, because it’s the one place where your vote will most count towards saving you money.
Property taxes, water rates, parking meters — in most parts of the country, these things are dictated by your municipal government. If you want to get your water bill down to a reasonable level (and if you live in Niagara like I do, believe me, that’s a priority), the best way to do that is to vote in a candidate who’s committed to your cause.
Even little costs can add up. About 10 years ago our region placed a 2 bag limit on garbage. Anything more than that and you’ll need to buy a “garbage tag.” It’s not a system that I disagree with, but if I did, wouldn’t it make sense for me to vote in a candidate who wants to turn it around?
Not everywhere in Canada will be going through a municipal election in the coming weeks, but if you live in Ontario, Alberta, Manitoba, and select parts of Saskatchewan or PEI, your ballot box is just around the corner. Hit up your city’s website, learn about the candidates, attend some debates, and — most importantly — show up on election day. If you’re looking to get the most bang for your buck when it comes to your local government, make your vote count.
I’ve gone one step further and am running for council. October 18 is election day in Alberta and I would like to encourage everyone to fulfill their civic responsibility, and get out to vote!
Ready to vote.
Municipal, provincial or federal.
I will always vote.
Yep! Can’t wait to vote!
My first time being able to vote! So excited to have a say!
As one commentator on Hamilton politics said, it is the voters’ duty to find out where each candidate stands on local issues. Watch the televised debate-the opening and closing statements are important, as is the eye contact with viewers at home via the camera.
I’ve voted faithfully for 40 years in every type of election: civic, provincial, federal. I also worked as a volunteer on some candidates elections, investing a lot of money and time in furthering their candidacy. But at this point, after way too much disappointment in my local civic candidates, I am voting as do most of my fellow citizens:
For ‘None of the Above’.
I’m just too sick and tired of phoniness, hypocrisy, corruption, greed, dishonesty and bureaucracy to attend any more meetings and waste my afternoon or morning at the polling stations.
But that doesn’t mean that the rest of you shouldn’t keep voting, at least for 40 years. ‘_’
Have been watching the local debates on TV & weighing our options!
In Chatham-Kent their seems to be too many civil servants making big bucks while the general public have no jobs & higher taxes…and the spending is out of control…time for a change!
We will be voting!
Apparently there is no early voting and our poll is when I am in another country.
I voted about a week, maybe two, ago. Mail-in-ballots are great!
What I don’t like about the election in my area is we have people from Toronto running for reeve and deputy reeve. They think just because they have a cottage here they’re allowed to run for council! They live in Toronto, they should run for council in Toronto. Not cool.
Our municipal election was last fall.
RobynCD — so great that you are running! I wish you good luck!
Use http://www.vote.ca to find where to vote, it’s very easy.