All politics is local so get out and vote

They say all politics is local and that municipal politics is closer to our everyday lives than any level of government. It’s about water, sewage and garbage pickup. It’s about street-light repairs, safe pedestrian crosswalks and parks where our children can play. 

So, as we head into another round of municipal elections on Oct. 27 across Ontario (and in B.C., Manitoba and PEI), why are we voters so apathetic? Historically, less than half of voters cast a ballot in municipal elections in Ontario, according to AMCTO (the Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario). 

It’s rather pathetic. Why don’t we exercise our right to either “kick the bums out” or reward hard-working and capable people who serve us? By ignoring the voting booth, we’re basically acting like Pontius Pilate and washing our hands of any responsibility on how our cities run, or don’t run.