Canada Election 2004

So this years federal election is over and there were some interesting results.

The first interesting item was that the Liberals won with a minority. This will be the first minority government in Canada since 1979. This will be a good thing for Canada. Before the recounts are completed the Liberals have 135 seats, COnservative have 99, The Bloq Quebecois 54, NDP 19 and Non Affiliated 1. The Liberals are not going to be able to ram legislation through parliament and are actually going to have to listen to the opposition. All it will take is once trying to get a bill passed without the agreement of the other parties and we will be going back to vote. The Liberals will not get their way in government the way they have for the last 11 years. There is now a tight leash put on them and all parties will have to work together to make this work.

The second interesting item is also a disturbing item. The turnout for this election had only 60.5% of eligible voters go out and exercise their democratic right to vote. The right that men and women have given their lives fighting for. This number is the lowest in history in term of percentage since 1867. Why is this? Everyone knew that this election was going to be close. It appears that the age group of 18-25 seems to be where a big part of the problem is. In the last election in 2000 only 25% of eligible voters between the age of 18-24 voted. Why? Why? Why?

It appears that the younger generations have had things too easy. While politics is not near the top of my interest list I still make time to learn about the parties and the important topics of the time. I don't think that the younger generations of today do that. Even when I was that age group I took the time to listen and be informed. Many of the people now figure that one vote will not make a difference. This election has proved that wrong. Every vote counts!!! The other part of this lack of voting goes to the way society is today. Most of the non-voters don't care who the government is. Healthcare will exist, roads and bridges will be maintained, taxes will be paid; life will go on as it is. So who cares who is Prime Minister; it doesn't make a difference. This is a bad attitude to have and shame on anyone who feels this way.

For those of you that didn't vote I have one thing to say to you. By not voting you have lost your ability to complain about anything that the government does that you don't like. By not voting you have told the government that everything is ok with you. If you don't vote you can't complain; that right doesn't belong to you anymore.

So when the Liberal minority receives a vote of non-confidence and we go back to the polls for another election remember to get off your ass, take a bit of interest in what is happening around you and go VOTE. For those of you with provincial or municipal elections this year the same goes for you. VOTE! VOTE!! VOTE!!! It is your right.

Leave me your comments on this topic as I am really interested in who votes and why and who doesn't and what their excuses are.