Not sure who to vote for... or if it’s worth the bother?

 I am 55 years of age. I have voted in every election since I was 18 and in the middle of Trudeau mania. For the first time in a very long time I am concerned. I am not sure I can vote this year.

By nature I am a Liberal. When I was young, I probably fit very well into the knee jerk liberal category. I am also a director of CAFTA/CNTC. In the past, I have voted according to the leader of the party. I am not particularly impressed with Dalton McGuinty. His sudden outpouring of money to all and sundry certainly is not sufficient to change my mind particularly, since he is very carefully avoiding the issue of Market Value Assessment and what is going to happen to everyone’s property assessment and thus tax the moment he is elected? Where, by the way, was all this money a few months ago?

My next option is to turn to my local riding. I happen to live in the north part of this riding. Check the last provincial election results – Lou Rinaldi was elected from the south. He still doesn’t seem to know or care what happens up here. I can’t see myself voting for him.

John Tory sounds good in the current ads but… the family I married into was thrown out of work by John Diefenbaker and the Avro Arrow fiasco. Our current conservative Prime Minister is following true to federal conservative policy – placating the United States and big business. Although that has its benefits, it leaves me scared. It is important to remember that Canada is a neighbour, not the 51st state and that the grassroots are a major force in this world today. As far as provincial policy goes, Mr. Tory has the legacy of Mr. Harris to deal with. This province’s business and property owners are still suffering from Mr. Harris. How is Mr. Tory going to repudiate and repair the past? Back to local politics, my PC candidate, Cathy Galt, should know the local situation but I don’t know her. Which line will she be following?

That leaves the NDP and the Green Party. I’ve heard their names but not much more. I am concerned about the environment. I think, maybe, the NDP is concerned about the ordinary working individual but what abilities do they have to actually hold power? The NDP in either provincial or federal politics has an abysmal record there. Okay, if they are not going to get in power, how are they at getting their message heard. If I vote for them, am I just throwing my vote away? At this point, I really don’t want to do that.

Why am I writing this? Simple, I have lived at my current address for 17 years. In that time, three candidates have spoken to me. They were all running in municipal elections and in two of those three cases, I spoke first.  I doubt that this will change.

The following are the questions I personally would like an answer to:

1. What is your stand on making a significant, not a band-aid, solution to the current property assessment debacle?

2. What will you do to reverse the downloading of provincial services to the municipalities?

3. What specific policies will you endorse to grow all of Northumberland County? While I appreciate the farmer’s plight, there are more than just farmers here. This county is in flux, how are you going to help it?

4. Finally, the following question does not have an easy answer; however, I would be interested in an answer.  The middle class is being squeezed out of existence. Will you do anything to stop that?

One final comment. The image that is being sent, correctly or incorrectly, from our provincial and federal politicians is one of arrogance, dishonesty and a total lack of concern or belief in the individuals who put them there.

I am not a person who believes the past is better than the present but in the last little while, I find myself wondering what those days were like when politicians chose the job because they wanted to help the community, not receive a paycheque. Does any politician anywhere think beyond the immediate term of office? Perhaps this is why, for the first time in my life, I may not vote this year. Is there a reason anymore?

Shirley Weeks
Warkworth