Editor:
Voter turnout fell to 59.8 per cent in 2008. The median voter turnout for a Canadian general election since 1867 was 70.3 per cent and the highest voter turnout was in 1958, 1962 and 1963 and was up to 79 per cent. What prompted these high numbers?
In 1958 John Diefenbaker got the largest majority government in the history of Canada and the second largest percentage of the popular vote. Why? Because the Liberals had a new and untried leader in Lester B. Pearson and with the loss of St. Laurent, Quebec, under Duplessis, gave their support to the Tories and the Social Credit collapsed.
In 1962 there was high unemployment, a slumping Canadian dollar as well as unpopular decisions – e.g., the Avro Arrow cancellation. Though the Conservatives won a minority, this resulted in -44.2 per cent change for the Conservatives and +106.3 per cent change for the Liberals, the Social Credit returned with +30 per cent and the NDP came on the scene with +19 per cent. This was also when the Northwest Territories, First Nations and Inuit voted for the first time.
In 1963 Diefenbaker’s cabinet wished to remove him as leader. The party was split on the matter of having U.S. nuclear missiles on Canadian soil. This resulted in the Conservatives receiving two non-confidence votes and the Liberals won 128 to 95.
History has shown that we, the people, in a democracy, can do great things. It is our responsibility and our right. Our values and beliefs will not be heard unless we vote. Our tax dollars are used to fund programs and policies. We decide how our dollars are used. If we live here, we have a say in how our community, our province, our country is run.
Pride in this beautiful country Canada, voting for trust in a government that will represent our needs, values and beliefs, should bring us all out to vote on Oct. 19. Whether voting for change or voting for proper representation, we need to get out and vote.
What happened in 2008? Let’s not let it happen again.
Michele Beaudry, Get Out The Vote, Alliance 4 Democracy
