Ottawa Sun
Published: Saturday, April 16, 2005

They'll run, be ready to catch them

Okay, maybe that election will come before the fall -- and with parties preparing, voters had better do the same.

Last week I wrote about election timing and bet the publisher's house on the fall? Now you know why I don't go to the track or play poker: I can't pick the ponies or count cards and never could bluff my way through a bad hand. Instead of going to the casino across the river, I just send a cheque to the Quebec minister of revenue; it's simpler and saves time.

Barring a major rebound for the free-falling federal Liberals in public opinion, we are going to the polls before Canada Day. Circle Monday, June 27 as the most likely date to cast your ballot, one year less a day since the last federal vote.

First, I'll take care of the "me" question. I will not be a candidate for the federal Tories this time out. I'm humbled and honoured for the mammoth outpouring of support and encouragement that east end voters and Ottawans in general have communicated to me in the last two weeks, but simply put, this is not the time for me or my family. Family and anniversary trips have been planned and my contractual commitments run to the end of June. My father taught me that integrity is about sticking to your commitments after the circumstances change, period.

Over the coming weeks I will give you a former candidate's perspective on what the ballot question really is, what the candidates are thinking and dissect the spin from party strategists to arm you with questions to ask all the candidates when they come banging on your door or during local debate sessions.

Right now Liberal MPs are scouring their ridings for campaign offices and taking inventories of their old signs, maps and lists. The good thing for all parties is that the 2004 electoral boundaries remain unchanged, only the voters list will be different. This is a touch problematic as one in six urbanites moves each year and of course new voters have sprouted like dandelions on city-owned lands in communities like Orleans, Riverside South, Barrhaven and Stittsville. However, all parties are on equal footing when it comes to this dynamic.

For the Tories, local riding associations are scrambling to secure nomination venues and dates for what are expected to be hotly contested nominations in ridings such as Ottawa-South, Ottawa-West Nepean and my backyard of Ottawa-Orleans. At the same time, their election readiness committees are (or they should be, get cracking!!!) looking for office space, compiling MP voting records, scouring MP householder fliers for background info, and lining up community event calendars for their candidate to visit when she or he is not canvassing.

On a personal level, candidates looking to unseat sitting MPs are putting their private practices on hold, wrapping up work projects or seeking unpaid leaves of absence (as guaranteed under the Canada Elections Act) should they get the party nod in their respective constituencies. Take it from one who knows, it's a big decision to run with its own set of personal and financial challenges.

To be sure, this is not a plea for sympathy. Each person who puts their name on the ballot does so, hopefully, with a great deal of deliberative forethought and planning. It is a privilege to live in a democracy -- regardless of how flawed ours is and how corrupted it has become -- and to put one's name on a ballot for election to any office across the three orders of government.

Voters are the ultimate owners and shapers of public policy. However, if recent trends hold, 40% of eligible voters will choose not to exercise their franchise -- a franchise that over 110, 000 Canadians died to protect in the last century or so -- come voting day. So if you don't vote, don't complain: Your apathy disgusts me and you dishonour the legacy of Canadian citizenship.

As for the other 60% of you, I encourage you to do more than just vote. Read the literature that comes to your door, surf the candidate and party websites, ask questions of your candidates, take a lawn sign, write a cheque if you are inspired by a candidate or party and get involved in a local campaign if you can free up a few hours each week.

Democracy is best strengthened through debate and participation and the level of local debate and participation is in our hands, not the politicians and wanna-bes.

It's your choice Ottawa: Will you control the local campaigns or are you content to watch them unfold on the six o'clock news?