Paige Desmond
The race is on.
As local candidates race through town pounding in election signs on lawns, it’s only a matter of time before their platforms and promises are front and centre before voters.
And with the federal election scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 14 (the day after Thanksgiving), there only are four full weeks of campaigning left.
But before incumbent Ken Boshcoff (Liberal), Russ Aegard (Green), Richard Neumann (Conservative), and John Rafferty (NDP) can tell the community what the issues are, the Times asked local residents what they think is important.
“I haven’t really made up my mind yet,” said Lenore, who did not give her last name. “I don’t think it’s going to impact our town.”
Indeed, it would seem some in the community do not feel federal issues impact Fort Frances—a disconnect between our small town and the top tier of government.
Bobbi Armstrong agreed, saying, “I think if there is a change, it’s a minute change that you don’t realize is happening.
While some were of the opinion that federal actions might not trickle down here, others just don’t have time to worry about elections.
“I never have [followed elections],” laughed Bridget as she walked the riverfront with a friend.
She elaborated how election issues simply don’t have a place in her life, nor are on the priority list.
“Life is busy, I have young children,” she remarked as her walking partner nodded in agreement.
Some residents may be busy, but others have more deliberate reasons behind their lack of interest.
“I just don’t agree with how things are done in the country,” said one man, who asked that his name be withheld.
“It doesn’t help the guy who is trying to start a business,” he added, referring to his theory about the government’s elitism.
The man explained how generations of his family have boycotted the vote because they feel the federal government is not really interested in helping the middle and lower classes.
Leonard Bedard will not be voting this year because he is tired of politicians’ “rhetoric.” To him, the campaigning and promises we hear at election time are just “a lot of hot air,” and he has lost interest.
Lenore, meanwhile, said if there is one federal issue which applies to Fort Frances, as she looked towards the mill, it is the environment.
“Air pollution for one thing,” she said, then adding the economy and Canadian dollar are other issues to be addressed.
Both she and Armstrong mentioned the effect of the town’s border location as impacting on people’s political interests here—a distraction from Canada’s less sensational political face-offs.
“We get so much American TV,” Armstrong pointed out.
Dawn Booth agreed. “People do pay attention to what’s happening across [the border],” she said in reference to American politics. “It’s terrible.”
A Stephen Harper Conservative supporter, Lucille has two definite issues she would like to see addressed in the fall vote. For her, health care and the environment were top on her list of issues that apply locally.
And while the early campaign has hinted the economy might be an issue, “They economy seems to be doing okay so far,” she remarked.
“I’d vote for Harper again,” she added.
And she is not alone. Stephen Wu will be voting Harper and had nothing but good things to say about his term as prime minister.
“He does everything good,” said the father.
With so few people appearing to even be paying attention to the election, it seems local candidates definitely have their work cut out for them in not only winning over voters—but in getting people to vote in the first place.
