Today was more or less election day in Ottawa-Carleton — it’s a little known fact but it’s true.
Many of our city and regional councillors were chosen today.
Why?
Quite frankly, there was just no competition. With nominations closing today for the Nov. 10 election, these candidates are unopposed.
The school boards are no better off. Despite the current furor about the future of our education system, some areas may end up having no trustees to represent them.
There are three plausible explanations for this severe case of election apathy. One: residents of Ottawa-Carleton are overwhelmingly content with the way the city is being run. Not very likely. Two: despite the media coverage, people just didn’t know about the election. Or three: people just don’t give a damn. The last reason is the most plausible.
There is no doubt that Ottawa residents have election apathy.
Municipal and regional governments may be at the bottom of a complex network of government, but that by no means diminishes what they do. Municipal and regional governments are, in fact, the engines that drive our day-to-day lives.
With its recently increased responsibilities, 80 per cent of our property tax dollars will be spent by regional government. These governments make sure our garbage is picked up regularly, that our water is clean, that we have police officers on the street, paved roads to drive on and beaches and parks to enjoy.
Are these things of no importance?
Our local government does more than serve as a stepping stone for those who want to get to Queen’s Park and Parliament Hill. With responsibilities of the provincial government downloaded to the local level, these governments are more important than ever. Municipal politics has an enormous impact on our lives — so why the apathy?
But more important, why are so few people willing to put their energy into the betterment of their community? Without competition, there’s less room for ideas to be challenged. Residents have repeatedly voiced their concerns over the way this region is being run. Yet, in Centretown, both the municipal and regional candidates are unopposed. Both are incumbents.
For some of us, there’s no point in rushing to the ballot box on Nov. 10 because the choice has already been made — by sheer public laziness.