A few weeks ago, I found myself out knocking on doors in Tara with an old friend running for deputy mayor in Arran-Elderslie. If you love a good front porch visit, knocking on doors is a really fun thing to do and that night was no exception.
Despite varied political views, a welcoming front porch was a universal feature of the night and I’d bet that the 18 candidates here in North Perth are finding the same. People are generally welcoming to a political candidate at their doorstep, as it is a chance to be heard. Sometimes being heard is more important than the candidate’s actual ability to impact a specific issue. Plus, a positive front porch interaction can be just the catalyst needed to get a first-time, reluctant or otherwise uninterested voter, out to the polls.
Understanding the roles of different levels of government is no easy task for many of us. For example, in Tara, many residents were concerned about recent closures of the ER at the Chesley hospital. While you can try to explain how a municipal politician has little influence over these decisions, it doesn’t change what’s important to the majority of people – they want to live in a safe place with good schools, access to health care, economic opportunities, and a diverse community infrastructure.
North Perth is a local outlier in terms of the large number of candidates on the 2022 municipal ballot. In contrast, many nearby council chambers have had a significant portion of their members acclaimed rather than determined through a vote on election day. Unfortunately, when candidates are acclaimed, front porches go unvisited, new or uninterested voters do not have a reason to become engaged, and a new level of apathy can set it.
Many places (including Arran-Eldeslie), find themselves in a situation where all but one or two races are acclaimed. It makes a person start to wonder if wards are actually getting in the way of renewed civic engagement. Despite being an Elma Township resident, “Elma Township” is very far down my list of responses when asked where I’m from. My standard response is Listowel; when I’m cheeky it’s the Greater Trowbridge Area; and when I’m reminiscing, I’m from Wallace township. Heck, I’m using ‘township’ to describe these places, and technically they have been wards for the majority of my life.
What purpose does the ward system truly play today, besides some motion of ‘filling a quota?’ Is there really any difference in needs between myself here on the farm, the collection of houses that make up Wallaceville, or the newly-expanded Atwood? There could certainly be some nuance in how we want our services delivered and, if one wants to make a case for preserving geographical quotas, this would be the primary justification. Sure, snow and waste removal do look different out here on the backroads versus in town, but the broad strokes of what we need from our community are the same.
Back to our North Perth race… while we have a large number of candidates, how many voters will be frustrated that they cannot vote for their preferred candidates? When I look at my own ballot I feel that frustration. I don’t know Jamie Pynn or David Ludington, and while knowing a person isn’t the be-all and end-all, when it comes to municipal politics, it certainly counts for something. Changes are needed so that voters can select who they deem to be best suited to the job, free of the confines of the current ward system.
The issues currently facing North Perth require people that don’t think in the narrow band of tradition, but rather bold thinkers and fierce leaders who are keen to tackle housing, growth, and a labour shortage that continues to plague local businesses. North Perth is the greatest beneficiary of an engaged populace and given the incredible amount of political energy being shown this election cycle, we should be looking to capitalize on it and improve for the future.
Removing barriers to make sure the best people are around the table is a great place to start.
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Stewart Skinner is a local business owner, former political candidate, and has worked at Queen’s Park as a Policy Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs. He can be reached at stewart@stonaleenfarms.ca or on Twitter: @modernfarmer.
