Guest Author - Betty Dobson

Election talk is everywhere, and Canadian Culture is no exception.

The upcoming Federal election may be contentious to some and boring to others, but choosing the next round of Members of Parliament--and our next Prime Minister--cannot be taken lightly.

The face of Canadian politics changed drastically when the Progressive Conservatives merged with the Canadian Alliance to form the Conservative Party of Canada. The word “progressive’ disappeared from the party name, signifying a political shift to the far-right Alliance ideology. Party members started making public statements against such high-profile social issues as homosexuality and abortion rights without any censure from their own leader.

This new Federal political landscape will challenge old voting habits. We've seen the development of a drastic difference between the two major parties--the Conservatives and the Liberals--that most voters once viewed as interchangeable. "One's no different from the other" no longer applies in Canada.

As a result, many "old Tories" are paying closer attention to party platforms and the views of individual candidates. They're looking for a viable alternative to an ultra-conservative vote. For some, voting for the New Democratic Party feels like too big a swing to the left. The Liberal Party, on the other hand, sits closer to the safe middle ground that most Canadians seem to prefer.

Unfortunately, Paul Martin's Liberals are hampered by the recent sponsorship scandal. How do you support a government that comes across as either corrupt or incompetent?

There's been increased talk of protest votes for Independent and Green Party candidates, but any such move would be far from practical. Fringe candidates won't carry the election and form the next government. The few that make it to Parliament won't be in a position to affect policy.

Overall, voters need to understand where candidates in their ridings stand on the issues. Voters need to ask questions and insist upon answers. Voters need to make informed decisions and avoid trying to "make a statement" to the major parties.

Voters need to vote--and make those votes count.