Across the region, nearly as many people stayed home as took to the polls Wednesday in an election that saw the lowest voter turnout in Ontario history.
About 51 per cent of the region's 334,000 eligible voters bothered to cast ballots.
In most local ridings fewer than half the number of eligible voters cast ballots. Turnout was lowest in Cambridge, which registered just 49.3 per cent of the vote, a 4.5-point drop from the 2003 election.
"I have never seen such apathy since I've been involved in politics," said Cambridge MPP Gerry Martiniuk, who was elected to a fourth term in a tight race against Liberal Kathryn McGarry....
I find this so puzzling. Not only was there a lot of emotion fanned by the Liberal war room against FB-funding, but there was also a rare referendum on the very way we determine democracy in Ontario. How is it possible that so few people care or 'are too busy' to vote? Would you have time to stand in a long line for a free case of beer if it were offered?
Voting ahead is the way to go. It's easy, convenient and not crowded.
You're not just a bunch of lemmings, fellow Ontarioans - You're apathetic lemmings. Especially those who live in Waterloo Region.
Anyone who didn't vote has no right to complain about anything for the next four years.
I am disgusted.
* * * *
I wonder if these people actually voted:
Obviously this one didn't (Post):
From the Record:
I wonder if these people actually voted:
Obviously this one didn't (Post):
...I am a conservative who did not vote in Wednesday's Ontario election. There are tens of thousands of others like me, who stayed away because we had no one for to vote for. We want leaders who stand for lower taxes and smaller government. John Tory was not that man.
A liberal who pretends to be a conservative is worse than a liberal who admits it. This is why Mr. Tory lost. Let's find a Mike Harris conservative, and get ready for next time.
Ron Tillotson, Toronto.
From the Record:
I am absolutely appalled with the provincial election results.(I bet he voted!)
What could the smart citizens of Ontario possibly be thinking about by giving Dalton McGuinty another four year free reign. It sure beats me.
I guess the people don't care if they are misled, or that reminders about all the broken promises fell on deaf ears.
What has McGuinty done about the Caledonia fiasco except give the natives more ammunition to go after more control over the six miles on either side of the Grand River, and to require permission from the Six Nations council before anything can happen? McGuinty did nothing except blame others, such as the federal government.
The Liberals gave $1 million to the Ontario Cricket Association. That money surely could have been better spent.
I can go on and on, but what's the use. The people of Ontario have spoken, so fasten your seatbelts. for the next four years because Dalton is driving the legislative bus.
You wanted him again and you've got him.
David J. Burnside, Kitchener
40 comments:
Small c conservatives had no one to vote for. That might be part of the problem.
Swift, brilliant as always.
That may explain the Liberal majority.
I don't think the faith based funding was that big an issue to people. The Lib war room made it the issue of the campaign, so for a lot of people it was a campaign based on an issue they didn't give diddly about.
Hey, now we can blame Dalton/the Liberals for voter apathy.
And Swift is correct, us conservatives were left outside looking in on this one.
Swift, I'm in the process of adding an update, which backs up what you said.
Brian, it's so sad.
Swift -- As Joanne said, pathetic lemmings. No one to vote for? Give me a break! Liberals seldom break ranks. So-called small c conservatives don't know the meaning of loyalty and pulling together for the whole. In other countries people risk death to vote and yet our small c conservatives did not vote because the leader was not conservative enough or they didn't like one single policy (even though a policy convention is the place to argue over that). Poor dears! I hope all those who didn't vote enjoy the next four years.
If there's no one to vote for, people ought to register this sentiment by expressing this to their polling officer. These numbers are recorded.
Even though some conservative-minded people don't like John Tory's red tory leanings, what about the local candidate?
At any rate, to decline to vote just because you don't like the leader of your party of choice is disgusting.
Dirk, I agree. When did you get so smart and reasonable?
Best comparison is this.
Liberal voters are like Leaf fans. No matter how much the team sucks, they buy tickets, watch the game on tv, buy the jerseys and other memorabilia. We know they suck, yet still throw our support behind them.
Conservative voters are like Habs fans. When times are good, and we have a good team, we give them 100% support. But when we have a bad team, or one that just makes a poor effort, we are the first ones to criticise and let them know our disapproval and take it out on them.
And I'm a leaf fan, and certainly would never vote Liberal. I have in the past but after Adscam and McGuinty's list of broken lies I will never do that again.
Interesting comparison, paulsstuff. I made a similar one weeks ago describing why Quebec boos Dion, just as Montreal boos the Habs if they are not at the very top. It's like a coach telling the players his granny could play better.
I have a very different view on this. Feel free to call me on projecting what I feel conservatives think. I'm not so "unconservative" myself but I understand it is only my opinion.
Conservative voters can freely stay home when they don't like what the Party is offering, because they know they will have a better chance in the future. Despite the doom and gloom seen here on this blog, they know deep down inside that come the next election, things will not be in some disastrous situation. We will still be a country. We will still have our institutions, such as they are. We will not have major unrest exploding. We may have more taxes than we would under a fiscally conservative government, but these can always be rolled back later, either because they work too well and we have a surplus, or because we have a downturn and the "extra" taxes drag the economy.
The conservative view is like two steps forward (when conservatives are in power) and one step back (when someone else is in power).
Compare that with what I think is the liberal view. This is more federal than provincial but there are parallels. We see every single one of our institutions under attack, from the GG, SCC, Senate on to Elections Canada. We see possibly secret deals being made in the SPP. We see irrevocable changes being casually proffered and debate on these consists of little more than talking points, putdowns and manipulation.
So when John Tory wants to make a fundamental change to the education system, all that concern about irrevocable change brings all the liberals out. We're actually pretty conservative, in the traditional sense. Holding one's nose and staying with the Liberal, in order to save the country (in one's opinion) is nothing new.
You may ridicule this, but that is how I see it.
Wow, the Leafs/Habs comparison is brilliant.
I think it's sort of darkly humorous that "small-c conservatives" found "no one" to vote for. I'm sorry, but you're just not looking hard enough. If you don't like John Tory or Howard Hampton, maybe you'll find a candidate to support in the Family Coalition Party or the Greens. This "not right enough" excuse is pathetic.
Because of Swift's inaction, and the inaction of others of the same mind, the PC party walks home thinking, "Hm, bad campaign".
Had all who felt as Swift do voted for a different party, the PCs woud walk home thinking, "Bruce Almighty, what can we do to attract that 6% of voters to *us* next time?"
Swifty? Look no further. YOU are the lemming.
personally, for me, I see it similar to paulstuff.
conservatives, generally are pretty black/white, right/wrong thinkers. I could be wrong, but I know I am like that, and I am conservative.
whether you call it principled or a less judgemental word, I think conservatives are more likely to look objectively at their party, their leader, and his/her policies and if they do not think it supports their conservative views, they will reject it, regardless if it means losing. I do agree with LS (gasp!) in that conservatives are two steps ahead with this type of strategy, if you can call it that. I think it is more like being true to your principles.
Liberals don't look at things in terms of black/white, right/wrong. Everything can be reduced to shades of grey, which I think is why they are able to support their party even in times when the party should not have their support. They are always able to find some justification as to why a liberal did what he/she had to do. There are exceptions, like steve v at far and wide, possible a bc'er in TO, and the Maple something or other. But by and large, when you look through both liberal and conservative blogs, you find that the libs are all "rah rah!" for their team, whereas you will see more conservatives being critical of their party if they make a misstep or dislike their policy.
Hold on - I'm getting mixed up (too early and not enough coffee). I assumed Swift did not vote - maybe that isn't so. And if you did vote - my sincere apologies.
I find there is a strikingly similar proportion of "liberals" and "conservatives" willing to a) challenge their party, and b) cheerlead no matter what.
CalgaryGrit is an excellent guy, Jason Cherniak is not. ChuckerCanuck is great, Kate @SDA is not.
Hm, but, thinking out loud as I go, Cherniak is a partisan buffoon, whereas Kate, now that I think about it, is an ideological buffoon.
Maybe Liberal Supporter and Torian are onto something here after all. Very interesting.
I find this so puzzling.
I don't find it puzzling at all. That was my last provincial election. My vote is completely useless since I live in a safe riding for a party other than the one I support. I suspect a lot of people have come to the conclusion that their vote just doesn't matter and so are staying away from a place where their opinion is dismissed.
P.S. David J. Burnside probably did vote and probably voted against electoral reform.
jason,
remember, i'm speaking generally here :)
calgary grit is another one. Olaf was one, too. Kate does "rah rah" for conservatives, but I also see her more of a hard right rather than a small c conservative.
For the record Dirk, I don't have a party of choice. My interest in politics is policy driven. I care what you will do, not what party you are with. I almost always vote Conservative because they are the party that most closely matches with my beliefs, but I would vote communist party if I believed they would support a platform I agree with (they wouldn't). This time out, frankly, I was having a hard time seeing anything to agre with anybody.
And the final nail in the coffin for me was my local candidate, between John Tory and Gerry Martiniuk I couldn't vote for these guys this time, and there sure as hell was nobody else speaking for (to?) me in this election. Sorry if it disgusts you Dirk, but my vote must be earned, at least a little. Thus, I rejected my ballot and voted no to MMP.
If a non-Ontarion may throw his opinion out (I just love referring to myself in the third person), if one finds the alternatives unpalatable, a voter always has the option of going to the polls and deliberately spoiling one's ballot. It's certainly what I intend to do in next Monday's Calgary civic election if I find that I can't vote for Mayor Bronconnier's chief challenger.
"Sorry if it disgusts you Dirk, but my vote must be earned, at least a little. Thus, I rejected my ballot and voted no to MMP."
If you rejected your ballot at the polling station, your rejection was recorded. You actually went out and expressed your sentiment. I don't think that's disgusting at all -- I think that's awesome.
What about those conservatives who support more school choice including faith-based funding, who ended up with a candidate who have way through dictated publicly that the fb school idea was stupid. No one to vote for for THIS conservative.
I ended up parking my vote with a party that respects a parent's right to choose an education for their children.
Also, there are many in my riding who stayed home because they're really insulted that both Tory(and Eves before him) crapped all over the Harris CSR and so distanced themselves from the good Harris did for the province. He may have pissed off the unions and was one tough cookie, but for those who stood by him for two majorities their loyalties still remain to this very day. Neither Eves or Tory reconcilled with these folks, and any dummy knows that the Conservatives can never win again in Ontario without harnessing the Harrisites, and make the issues relate to the party core more than the backroom advisors.
I hope that every last self professed conservative who refused to vote out of protest over Tory and his polices really enjoys the fruits of their indolence.
Maybe someone could explain to these sanctimonious fools that the way to influence and participate in who leads a party and what policies are is by joining the local riding association and being active in the party.
Every last one who did not do this should shut the hell up until they actually DO something.
many riding associations are still bastions of old boys clubs. When that changes count me in.
What about me, who voted in the advance poll....supported the fb schools issue and then watched as Tory watered his stance down to a free vote.
Was I used by the party and leader I supported?
What about me, who voted in the advance poll....supported the fb schools issue and then watched as Tory watered his stance down to a free vote...
That was indeed one of the problems voting in an advance poll this time. And on the other side, some conservative voters who were against FBF voted against Tory, and then regretted not voting for him after he announced the free vote.
The only thing I can say to you is what other leader else more closely supported faith-based funding?
At least you had a chance with Tory.
Typos in last comment but you get the picture.
It looks like I stirred up a hornets nest. I did vote. Primarily to vote no to MMP. When I was at the polling booth I was faced with a choice. Liberal, NDP, Green, "Conservative", or Family Coalition, none of which I really wanted to vote for. As a conservative I'm not going to vote NDP or Liberal.
The Ontario Green Party platform is much less left wing than many other Green platforms, perhaps because of its large omissions in many areas. However what areas they do cover is mainly concerned with greenhouse gas reduction. I have spent a lot of time in the last six months investigating the AWG theory and have come to the conclusion that there is no scientific evidence to support any effort to limit CO2. What is worse is that the green movement is promoting the greatest mass extinction since the asteroid hit the Yucatan. Early each afternoon the Terra satellite passes over Brazil. You can see for yourself the large number of fires(the red squares) for yourself. http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov click real-time and the most recent pictures are in the bottom right corner of the Terra satellite series. Many of these fires are burning the jungle to clear land for biofuels. Tropical rainforests and their huge biodiversity are being destroyed with the active encouragement of environmentalists. Green? No thanks.
Vote for the (sometimes but not now) Conservative Party? Only if I hold my nose while doing so. The FCP? They do have a conservative platform in many respects. There is one problem. I don't think I should force my religious beliefs on anyone, but they do. I have one very good reason for that stance. God didn't think it was right to force a particular religious belief on humanity. If it is not right for God, it's not right for me. Maybe I should start a new party.
Swift, I think of starting a new party all the time myself - they all do bite, in their own way.
I also see her more of a hard right rather than a small c conservative.
Fascinating, Torian - I wouldn't mind hearing about what you see as the difference between them.
....And the decline of western civilisation continues...When I went to vote Wednesday, and I voted PC Swift, they were still the best place to mark your X, I felt like a teenager there: All around me, old folks with canes and white hair. Some had difficulty walking. So as these seniors keep declining in numbers, so will voter turnout I suspect. Scary times indeed.
So Swift. Did I miss something? You said you voted no to MMP (yay!), but did you finally pick someone for the election itself?
I held my nose, but if I had thought of it I might have refused the ballot. It was a mental coin flip with the pencil hovering over the ballot.
I held my nose, but if I had thought of it I might have refused the ballot.
I hear ya, Swift. I voted for who I thought was the least of all evils.
Least of all evils --- yeah, same as just about everyone in this election, lol.
Why do so many assume not voting is because of apathy or laziness? If anything it makes a bigger statement than spoiling your ballot. (which one gets the headlines every election?)
As much as it might seem like it sometimes, politics isn't a team sport. The things you have to overlook to support your *team* are things that can still affect your life the next day.
If anything those who do vote have no right to complain - they participated and should accept the results.
If anything it makes a bigger statement than spoiling your ballot.
What statement are you trying to make, Ray?
My point was spoiled ballots are not noticed but voter turnout is. The only problem is it is often assumed this is the voter's failure - maybe that will change someday.
As for myself I feel better not personally endorsing any of these candidates or their vote buying schemes.
Conservative voters can freely stay home when they don't like what the Party is offering, because they know they will have a better chance in the future. Despite the doom and gloom seen here on this blog, they know deep down inside that come the next election, things will not be in some disastrous situation. We will still be a country.
The problem with your analogy is that we'll still be a country no matter which party wins. It's a question of whether we'll be a better, more self-reliant country, or more government reliant.
Why did JC keep free trade, the GST, etc., despite campaigning against them? Because they make the country stronger and more able to support our social programs.
conservatives" found "no one" to vote for. I'm sorry, but you're just not looking hard enough. If you don't like John Tory or Howard Hampton, maybe you'll find a candidate to support in the Family Coalition Party or the Greens. This "not right enough" excuse is pathetic.
Joanne, I suspect if you look at the numbers, the Libs gained nothing, or lost votes, the PC's the same, and the NDP and Green gained votes. Sounds like protest voting to me, just not the PC's.
My vote is completely useless since I live in a safe riding for a party other than the one I support.
My riding, a supposedly safe Liberal riding, was "owned" by the PC's for many years. It was considered untouchable, until the Rae NDP took it. The Libs are losing votes in every election since, so there is some hope (more voted PC and NDP here than Lib, but the FPTP sytem negated that).
Why bother to vote when, under first past the post, most votes don't count? But then most of the whiners on this post voted no to MMP.
"I did vote. Primarily to vote no to MMP." Not too swift. Deal with it, losers.
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