Reflections on Election 2008 from a CPJ Intern

As CPJ’s new policy intern, it has been fascinating experience to have had an election campaign held during the first two months of my internship. Over the last six weeks, we have sent election Ola!s out on a weekly basis, written articles on a variety of public justice issues, and held many discussions at the office about campaign platforms and policies.

The week after an election inevitably holds a variety of sentiments for many people –disappointment, frustration, satisfaction, apathy, or even excitement – depending upon how the results of the election are perceived. However, looking beyond the discussions of which candidate won a seat in which riding, the real issue that concerns me is the dismal number of Canadians who came out to vote yesterday. On election day, only 59.1% of registered voters turned out to the polls, the lowest level Canada has ever seen.

Having gained the privilege of voting only a handful of years ago, this was only my second time participating in a federal election. However, while I was disappointed to hear how low the turnout was, I wasn’t altogether surprised. Voter turnout, particularly among young people, has remained low in previous elections. I know people my age who didn’t vote yesterday for a variety of reasons, including because they are “too busy” or simply not interested. However, there are also many young people who care deeply about the well-being of others, are very active in their communities, and yet do not vote because they feel they are not represented by our political system.

So what to do if you are not happy with the results of the election? Or if you did not vote because you felt it would not matter? It is helpful to remember that the government that has just been elected is meant to represent all Canadians. Regardless of whether your candidate was elected, or even whether you voted at all, the government is still meant to represent you, and being involved in the political process is something that does not end with an election. Each one of us has the opportunity to be an engaged as an active citizen each and every day of the year.

A book about active citizenship that I have found very helpful is The Art of the Possible (a handbook for political activism) by Amanda Sussman. Sussman explains the policy-making processes on Parliament Hill and gives advice on how activists can navigate the Canadian political system and make a difference through influencing public policy.

During the debate on poverty last Monday, more than one of the candidates emphasized how political representatives “cannot do it alone” when trying to address issues such as poverty and inequality. Without the input and participation of their constituents, MPs cannot represent us properly, and we do not have the issues that concern us heard.

No matter how you feel about the election campaign, the importance of public justice in our society today is stronger than ever. By contacting your new MP, you can take the opportunity to talk about some of the issues that you felt were perhaps not looked at closely enough during the campaign, or others that concern you as the new government is formed. The government is there to represent every one of us; we each have a responsibility to ensure that they do.