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Get out and vote

"To make democracy work, we must be a nation of participants, not simply observers. One who does not vote has no right to complain." Louis L'Amour, U.S. writer 1908 -1988.

"To make democracy work, we must be a nation of participants, not simply observers. One who does not vote has no right to complain."

Louis L'Amour, U.S. writer 1908 -1988.

 

"People often say that, in a democracy, decisions are made by a majority of the people. Of course, that is not true. Decisions are made by a majority of those who make themselves heard and who vote - a very different thing."

Walter H Judd, U.S statesman 1898-1994

 

"Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote."

George Jean Nathan U.S. drama critic and editor 1882- 1958

 

Get out and vote

 

Over the last few weeks Pique has received many letters-to-the-editor urging people to vote.

Some have come from organizations, some from politically active Canadians and others from local residents.

Each time they come into my email box I read them and think about the idea that people have to be reminded to vote, or even urged to.

It seems even more incongruous when you consider what has been going on around the world as many people struggle against various types of governments for civil rights.

Over the years as a reporter I have lost count of the various elections I have written news stories about - I have also lost count of the number of news stories I have written about low voter turn out.

Though government records are not perfect one the highest voter turnouts came with our first election in 1867 - 73.1 per cent.

The lowest turnout was last time around in 2008 when only 58.8 per cent of eligible people voted. Canada is ranked 16th out of 17 peer countries in voter turnout according to Elections Canada.

A survey done by Elections Canada after the last federal election sought to find out why voter turnout was so low and the most common reason cited was "everyday situations." In other words people were on holiday, too busy or had family and/or work obligations.

Another major reason given is the low participation of young voters - it is this that lies behind the push by Elections Canada to change legislation to allow online registration of voters by 2013.

But surely voting, indeed the whole campaigning process, also needs to be made more meaningful for first time voters, it must be relevant to young voters and it must engage them.

A 2003 report by authors Jon H. Pammett and Lawrence LeDuc concluded that, "without fundamental changes in the way in which politics is conducted in Canada, these are goals that could well remain out of reach for some time."

Nothing in this latest election suggests that we are seeing any changes in the way the game is played as far as I can see.

Yet instead of feeling our system is fundamentally flawed right now I actually feel that democracy is working, at least in Whistler.

By now many of you know the saga of the asphalt plant near the Cheakamus Crossing neighbourhood. For more than 18 months residents have been voicing concerns about the plant's operations so close to their homes.

They formed the No Asphalt Plant group to protest the operation when more and more questions began to arise about the plant and its zoning.

It has been a long, twisting and somewhat arduous journey for those involved. But residents, such as Tim Koshul, and a few other key individuals used all the avenues available to them including Freedom of Information requests, public forums, council's question period and more to work for what the residents wanted - to find out the truth behind the plant's operations and to move the asphalt plant away from their homes.

And last week in his opening remarks at the start of a regular council meeting Mayor Ken Melamed stated that the plant had been told it must cease operations by May 13.

It is clear from council meetings and other exchanges that this has not been a process without passion from both NAP, residents and Resort Municipality staff and council.

And there are still far more questions than answers - such as how did each councillor vote when it came to making the decision about telling Alpine Paving they had to stop making asphalt at the Cheakamus site.

That is confidential information as it was part of a closed meeting held under Section 90(1)(g) of the Community Charter - litigation of potential litigation affecting the municipality. I would argue that it is information residents need and would urge it be releases once the litigation process - if there is one - is over.

But the final result is that citizens used the democratic process to achieve a desired result.

Whistler will have to wait and see what the cost of this process may be. After council last week Melamed said a lawsuit against the Resort Municipality of Whistler by Alpine Paving can't be ruled out.

But still what we have seen with this debate is true engagement and with municipal elections coming in November the "citizen" process will likely continue.

Then too people will be called on to vote, and let's hope they do, for only by being actively engaged in the community, taking the time to learn about the issues and getting to know and understand the people behind the names on the ballot sheet will leadership reflect what is important to Whistler residents.