Every candidate attempts to obtain 4 levels of commitment from voters through the running of their campaign:

i) A vote for the candidate
ii) A commitment to “soft” campaigning for the candidate (speaking with friends, family)
iii) A commitment to “hard” campaigning (volunteering for the campaign: fundraising, going door to door, putting up signs)
iv) Financial support (donations)

Based on the recent Federal election, it would appear that candidates in Canada are having a hard time getting the first commitment out of Canadians.Tamir Birk reminds us that at 59.1%, the 2008 Federal election had the lowest voter turnout in Canadian history.
(more…)

Stephen McNeil, Nova Scotia’s Liberal leader, thinks the province should lower the legal voting age to 16 in an attempt to increase youth participation at the polls. He claims there are no fundamental reasons 16 year olds should not be allowed to vote. Correct me if I’m wrong, but there are!

Firstly, compared to a typical adult, most issues that define elections don’t affect this age group.
(more…)

Who are you going to vote for? Here is a list of the major political parties and some information to help you make your voting decision. Happy voting!

Jean Charest, the current leader of the Liberal Party, is hoping to achieve another victory in Quebec. Last election, he barely held onto his Sherbrooke seat as he has been dubbed the “most disliked leader in Quebec’s history.” Charest has been focusing on the economy and how his party will be able to tackle the world financial crisis. The other major issue is the fact that there are many new immigrants who do not know French and the French language is losing its place in the province. Charest welcomes the new immigrants and diverse languages and will not reopen the language debates.

(more…)