Voting Day Finally Puts An End To Prose And Promises – And Puts The Power Into Your Hands
Posted October 10, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
They talked. You listened.
They argued. You judged.
They promised. You believed them.
O.K., that last one might be a stretch for even the most non-cynical Ontario resident, but it’s been more than three long weeks of listening to politicians drone on about everything – and sometimes nothing – until they’re blue in the face. Or red, or orange or green, depending on which party you support. And now, at long last, it’s your one and only chance to respond for the next four years.
Ontarians will head to the polls Wednesday to elect the next government of the province. There are many questions as they mark their ballots: Will Dalton McGuinty repeat as premier? Can John Tory upset him – and win his own seat? And will Howard Hampton hold the balance of power once the last vote has been counted?
This election has had just about everything, including acrimony and accusations, and party flacks will be out in full force during the day ensuring you get their final message – and more importantly, that you get out to vote. Turnout is critical in any election, and this one is no different. Nearly everyone agrees voting is a civic duty, but getting people to actually show up is another matter. In 2003, just 56.8 per cent of the population bothered to hit their local polling station and cast a ballot – the lowest number since 1923.
Among the issues that have provided fodder for the political fires this time around: faith-based schooling, the health care premium, taxes and crime. And don’t forget, you’ll also be faced with a referendum, too. For more on that click here.
All the party leaders will be out in full force trying to ensure you don’t forget them, believing that some people don’t make up their mind until they’re actually at the polling place. The NDP’s Howard Hampton will spend his day entirely in his home riding of Kenora-Rainy River, prior to what he hopes will be a victory celebration in Fort Frances.
PC leader John Tory will vote with his parents at a school in his Don Valley West riding in the morning, before settling in for the night to watch the returns.
And Liberal chief Dalton McGuinty will be spending most of his time in his home riding of Ottawa South.
The polls of the first fixed election date in Ontario history open at 9am and close at 9pm. Ironically, under the law, we should already know who won everything. The Election Statute Law Amendment Act mandates an election every four years on the first Thursday in October. So why are we voting on a Wednesday in the second week of the month? It turns out there was a religious holiday on October 4th, when the election was originally called, so it had to be moved to accommodate those celebrations.
- Be sure to tune into CityVote ’07 starting at 9pm on Citytv and CP24 for your fastest and most comprehensive live coverage from a dozen locations, letting you know who won and who lost – and what it means to your family.
