another lisa

Today is Canada's 39th Election! While many of us have been anxiously waiting for this day, the results are just starting to come in (It's 9:40 pm in Ottawa), and the early results are not really bad.

Of course, it depends on which party you support. Our house is pretty much an NDP supporter - we strategically vote Liberal sometimes too. As well, we usually have one person here voting for the Green Party. This year that was Amelia -- last time it was Sarah. I am very proud of my kids for following the election. Dorothy, Sarah and Amelia have watched the debates, talked to their friends and to us about the issues. And we all voted today! Even Oliver and Zoe have been watching the reports and following the issues and participated in an all candidates meeting at their high school.

While they have wondered why they should bother voting, when it seems that the two main parties are pretty similar (lesser of two evils), I keep saying that we are incredibly lucky to have democracy in our country - and the right to vote. It is so important to honour that right and vote however you choose, whether it's for the party, the leader or your local rep.

Generally I tend to vote for the party, not the leader - and I usually focus on one issue per election. Last time, I focused on equal rights for same sex couples - and voted NDP. This time my main concern is health care, as our equal system is being threatened by leanings towards privatization of our health care system. There is no way we want to head down that road, especially with the majority of the population aging.

While the Liberals are at fault this time for the sponsorship scandal, no one can tell me that former Conservative governments didn't steal money or "sponsor" whoever the heck they wanted. The Liberals need to form the government, and the NDP need to keep them honest.

This will sure be a nail-biter.

I have to say the best coverage has been Rick Mercer and Air Farce. What a hoot!

# posted by another lisa : Monday, January 23, 2006