The Blog

Image Credit: CityNews Toronto With election campaigns gearing up or set to kick off in several provinces across Canada, people will be taking the time to consider who's poised to secure office, what their policies are, and how to best utilize their voice at the polling station. Part of that involves understanding the polls; not only do they show who's leading in a given campaign, but which issues are paramount in an electoral race and how each candidate best reflects or fits

Image Credit: Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press The last time I talked about the value of a vote, I discussed how voting influences the makeup of legislatures, who governs, and whether a party can earn the opportunity to express their views in government via Question Period. Beyond those points, individual votes and support can affect the ability for a political party to express their ideas at the national level, specifically through debates. How does one's vote influence a

Image Credit: Destination Toronto When it comes to learning about politics and the Canadian political system, it is incredibly important for one to be able to distinguish between the three levels of government, the responsibilities that they each possess, as well as some of the key features that define them. The same can be said for those intending to become more informed about the political system in Canada and to maximize the value of their voice and their vote. This editio

Image Credit: Global News In a previous piece, I discussed the idea of students and their implication in the electoral process. Specifically, I discussed how elementary, middle, and high school students could learn about elections in Canada despite not being legally eligible to vote in them. This piece will enable that discussion to continue by discussing ways in which postsecondary students can vote despite often living away from their home riding. I will be discussing how s

Image Credit: The Globe and Mail It's election season in Quebec. Just one month remains before Quebecers head to the polls, and it seems to be a very competitive election. Let's break down the importance of this provincial election. Who's running? What do the polls look like? The Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) enters this campaign as the incumbent, though they won't be led by François Legault. Instead, Christine Fréchette will take the party into the election. The Parti Québec

Image Credit: Transport Action Canada Have you ever taken the train to go home for reading week? If so, you've probably been stuck between stations on at least one occasion. As your train sits there idle, waiting for whoever is preventing the train from moving, you wonder, "who is responsible for this?" That question is the exact premise of this article. In this piece, I'll discuss who is responsible for transit in Canada as a policy issue, which corporations manage Canadian

Image Credit: Student Vote Even though one must be 18 to vote in Canada, that doesn't mean learning about the electoral process should be limited to those above that age. In fact, there are in-school opportunities for students to learn about the electoral process and how they can mobilize their vote during an election. Enter Student Vote, a program organized to help inform students of the value of their vote. What is the history behind the program? Organized by CIVIX in colla

Image Credit: Radio-Canada A referendum is defined as a public vote on a topic of interest, which can take the form of a policy proposal or an issue that is front of mind. The most famous Canadian example of a referendum takes the form of Quebec's two attempts at securing independence. In 1980, Quebec staged the first of two referendums on independence, with the question asking whether voters were in favour of a sovereign Quebec while continuing economic relations with Canada

Image Credit: CBC The decisive factor during election night proceedings: the seat count. There's nothing better than watching the seat count continuously change with every polling station that submits their vote counts, ultimately yielding a final election night result that determines who governs and whether it's a majority or minority government. To understand the value of these individual seats and how they can influence the composition of government, I've included a few ke

Image Credit: Radio-Canada For the second time this Parliament, it's by-election season. With just under one week to go until the latest round of federal by-elections completely occupies the daily news cycle, it's worth taking the time to discuss the concept of a by-election and the importance of the ongoing campaign. What even is a by-election? A by-election is an election which takes place between regularly-scheduled elections and usually involves a small number of ridings.

Image Credit: Spencer Colby/The Canadian Press The bad news first: sentiments regarding the lack of impact of one's individual vote are commonplace in today's political society. That's typically accompanied by low electoral turnout in by-elections and general elections, alongside a perceived lack of awareness about the fact that these processes are even taking place. The good news: it doesn't have to be that way. Simply put, your vote defines who governs, how they govern, and