On Thursday night untold thousands of Conservative voters in Ontario stayed home instead of performing their so-called democratic duty. Those who care about the future of the province ought to be glad, even grateful that they did.
There is little doubt that a decent Conservative turnout would have changed the outcome of Thursday’s strong Liberal Party minority result. However, the Conservatives offered little to its supporters, even for a group that already subscribes to neatly prepackaged outrage and unfounded fear about taxes, unions, gays and foreigners (actual Canadians).
(Photo: KCIvey via Flickr)
The reported under-50% turnout is not dire. Aside from the miserable Conservative campaign it’s entirely possible that voters are content and didn’t see the need to reinvent Ontario. Voting through inaction is perfectly legitimate in a democracy.
Consider the alternative. Conservatives wanted an angry base to turn up at polling stations across the province, seething over Premier Dalton McGuinty, while pulling the metaphorical lever wild-eyed and unmindful. Last time naive politics of anger was on display in Ontario, Rob Ford became Toronto’s mayor in the 2010 municipal election.
Acrimonious politicking doesn’t always work when the target is in the race. Premier McGuinty had a chance to defend himself and he stood by his record. That neutralized much of the anti-McGuinty passion.
Those carrying the flag for a progressive Toronto in 2010 didn’t have the luxury of defence. Outgoing mayor David Miller wasn’t there to stand by his record, and Mr. Ford, along with an army of out-of-town provincial Conservatives that volunteered for him by busloads were able to target faceless “leftists” and “elitists” as a vague enemy.
Polls show Toronto voters are experiencing a hangover after consuming the Ford-supplied fury of 2010. They were unlikely to repeat that mistake on Thursday.
Those worried about democratic participation should focus on the root cause of political inaction. In Canada’s case, it’s a growing population that fundamentally doesn’t understand how its own democracy works. This is likely happening across the board from new Canadians to those who trace their lineage back centuries.
At the federal level, some studies hold that most Canadians wrongly believe they elect their Prime Minister directly; know little of their own political history; and much of this ignorance was corroborated when Canadians’ poor understanding of Parliamentary powers was shockingly exposed during recent coalition, prorogation and contempt sagas.
The most responsible thing a willfully uninformed-on-issues electorate can do on the day of an election is to stay home. It’s a net positive for society.
Tags: Canada, Conservative, Dalton McGuinty, election, federal, Liberal, municipal, Ontario, provincial, Rob Ford, Toronto, voting
