By Vriti Bakshi, Times Chronicle
The election process in Canada is essential to the democratic system that has been in place for centuries. It is the way that the country functions as a whole, and the process is used all the way down to small-town municipal governments, Osoyoos being a prime example of one.
This system allows the people to speak up on issues that matter to them and lets them have a voice in their communities, provinces, and their country. Our small town of Osoyoos is in the midst of practising our democratic right to vote in the municipal election that is held once every four years.
This is the time for locals to bring forward some new leaders for the town, as there have been many, many complaints regarding the current mayor and councillors that are in office. From water quality issues to the housing crisis, Osoyoos residents have been itching to see changes in town.
The municipal election event that was held at the Osoyoos Secondary School theatre gave residents the perfect opportunity to discuss with all of the candidates how they would help the town deal with the rising issues mentioned earlier.
Many points were made by each candidate about locals’ concerns, and town residents were also given the opportunity to voice their concerns regarding our town’s future. As a minor, viewing the whole process was interesting, but what really caught my attention during the event was hearing about how voter turnout was at its lowest during the last election.
Although it was only brought up in passing, I feel that was something that needed to be discussed. That was very disappointing to hear for many reasons, the main one being that Osoyoos residents have a lot of complaints, and the best way to resolve any issues they have with the town would be by voting in candidates they feel would best resolve them.
Town residents have every right to speak up on issues they feel strongly about within the community, but to help make a change requires more than just words; it requires action. What better way to help the water crisis than to vote for somebody who wants to do something about it?
It simply did not make any sense to me, since I have been told from the ripe age of eight how important it is to vote in elections, whether they are municipal, provincial, or federal. The education system has spent years emphasizing the importance of voting in elections, but it feels like they are informing the wrong demographic based on how the voter turnout has been in previous elections.
The children who are being informed about the importance of voting can not even go out to do so, but their parents can and should, especially since the town’s future would affect their children the most.
The town has one chance to come together and make an important decision that affects everyone, so it is crucial that people go out and take the opportunity to vote. I have opinions about this town, just like every other resident in Osoyoos. The difference between them and me, though, is that I don’t have the same voice because I cannot vote yet.
As a minor, I’m sure I speak for the majority of my generation when I say that we wish we could vote. We wish we could practise our democratic rights and participate in the election process. Unfortunately, though, we can’t, so that’s why it’s so disheartening to hear that the people who do have that right aren’t practising it.
And as a minor who can’t vote, I have advice to those who don’t care: practise your democratic rights and vote. Use your voice because there are so many who can’t. It affects everyone who lives in our small town in some way. Going out and voting will do a lot more for the town than sitting home and ranting on Facebook about how much you dislike the town.
Editor’s Note: Vriti Bakshi is a Grade 12 student at Osoyoos Secondary School and is currently doing a Work Experience Placement with the Times Chronicle.
