Skip to content

EDITORIAL: The importance of informed choice

Voting is our responsibility, so too is doing it intelligently and not impulsively

For those already weary of the political posturing, the unabashed partisan advertising, and the daily (hourly) deluge of government announcements and inevitable opposition critiques, the 28-day-election-campaign may already seem tiresome.

But it shouldn’t.

Democracy may not be pretty, but it is important.

And it takes work.

With only a few days remaining until the May 9 provincial election, we have an obligation to learn what we can about the candidates vying for our votes, and the parties they represent.

We need to dig past the rhetoric and unearth the specifics of their policies and priorities – all while avoiding the mud that’s already been thrown.

That means asking questions, and not being satisfied with party platitudes that offer no substance. We want answers tailored to the Langford-Juan de Fuca riding. We want to know specifically what each candidate will do to address issues like housing affordability, local job creation, addictions and mental health, access to health care, environmental protection and transportation.

We don’t want to know why we shouldn’t vote for the opposing candidates. We want to know why those seeking our vote believe they deserve it.

Armed with the information we acquire, we’ll be better equipped to make an informed choice on election day.

Because while voting is our responsibility, so too is doing it intelligently and not impulsively.