An election has been set for May 5. Yes, it's that period of time every four years where, you, a normal everyday citizen, gets the chance to exercise your right to choose who you want leading your region.
To this day many countries are still waging wars for this right; the right to vote. While these countries risk everything for democracy, we as Canadians seem indifferent to the idea of being able to vote.
In fact, most of us just don't care.
The last Alberta general election was held in 2012 and saw a pathetic 54 per cent of the public come out and cast a vote. That 54 per cent decided that the PC Party and Alison Redford were the best fit to lead the province.
Now I wasn't in the province at the time, but one can't help but wonder what the outcome might have been if the other half of the province (46 per cent) actually cared enough to get off their butts and vote. Would Redford have won? Would her ensuing debacle have occurred?
I know roughly half of you reading this are wondering that same question. The other half just don't care. You are probably just trying to justify why you didn't vote with some lame excuse. Reasons such as, “there are no good candidates,” or “I don't know anything about politics.”
The time for excuses is over. The province goes out of its way to make sure that there are enough times and polls for people to be able to vote. There are advanced polls and then the normal polls. Being too busy to vote is not valid, stop being lazy and get out to a polling station on May 5 and vote.
Bonnyville is one of the problem areas when it comes to people and their indifference to elections. The municipal election saw a 19 per cent voter turnout. That number is just disgraceful. How could 81 per cent of people in this town not care about what happens where they live?
I bet you way more than 19 per cent of this town complain about the decisions being made by town council. Sorry, your chance for a voice is over. If you wanted your opinion heard, why didn't you vote.
On April 22 and April 30 there will be two separate open candidates forums held in Cold Lake and Bonnyville. The three local MLA candidates will be at these meetings, ready and willing to field questions from the public.
I urge everyone to find a way to attend these events. You complain about not having the right information to cast a proper vote. Here is your chance to go out and get it.
I am going to take my time to gather information about all those involved before I make my division and I urge you to do the same.
This election will determine who is going to try and take Alberta's economy out of the large whole it is in. The next few years are going to be crucial.
Please go out and vote.