We’ve gone on about voter turnout before in this space, but it bears repeating: it’s incredibly frustrating that fewer people vote in municipal elections than for any other level of government.
It’s local government that provides the most direct services and that has the most direct impact on your wallet, from property taxes to water and garbage fees to what you pay to go for a swim at Brennan Park Recreational Centre.
It’s also the only level of government where you not only directly choose your leaders, but also have a pretty good chance of seeing them in the grocery store or on the soccer fields. It’s the most connected level of government we have.
And yet, we are the least connected to it – less than one out of three British Columbians could even be bothered to cast a ballot in the last municipal elections in 2011. Squamish does slightly better, with 44 per cent in 2008 and 41 per cent in 2011, but less than half?
It’s still simply pathetic.
But in order to get people to vote, they need people to vote for – and they need time to get to know them. As of right now, there are five declared candidates for six council seats – in other words we’re one short of even having a full council by acclamation, let alone having a choice. That is even more pathetic than the turnout.
Historically, Squamish has had a good roster of candidates to choose from – and it’s more important than ever that we have a good choice now.
This council will be the voice of the community at a critical time in its history, faced with taking a stand on a monumental project – the Woodfibre LNG proposal. While local government may not have a veto, they have a strong voice that will be heard when the provincial and federal governments make their decisions.
Those who have declared themselves are already at an advantage. To those who are thinking about participating, but haven’t made up your minds: the time to step forward is now. Yes, it’s a serious commitment with relatively small reward.
But it’s sorely needed.
