January 23, 2006
may seem like a long time from now, but candidates for the Nickel Belt
Riding realize the big day will be here before we know it. Claude Gravelle,
on the left, is running as the federal NDP candidate in Nickel Belt. He
and Eli Martel, a well-known and respected member of the party and former
member of the Ontario Legislature, were at the Hanmer Valley Shopping
Centre on December 3 meeting with people as they went about their holiday
shopping.
This
will be a very important election for the country, and both Claude and Eli
are hoping for a better than average turn out at the poles. Martel is
worried about the apathy that seems to be engulfing the country on all
political levels, citing a recent by-election where only about 20% of the
eligible voters took time to cast their ballots. He also pointed out that
in most elections while the winning party and/or candidate may receive 40
– 50% of the actual votes cast, this represents a mere 25 – 30% of the
total population and is thus hardly reflective of a leader who has the
support of the people in his riding. Both Martel and Gravelle are hopeful
that the January 2006 election will be a turning point in terms of voter
turnout. One of their goals is to convince the general public that it is
in their best interests to let their ballots speak for them by getting out
to vote.
An
informed voter can make a difference in the results of an election, and it
is hoped that everyone will take an active interest in keeping up to date
with what the local and national candidates are doing and saying between
now and January 23.
