I grew up in a very politically aware environment, and it’s something I am extremely thankful for. My sister is a card-carrying member of a political party (I’m going to keep things non-partisan here, and not divulge which one), so I got to see the inner workings of the 2008 election, not only as I worked at my first journalism job, but as she struggled to volunteer in a riding that was sure to go against her party of choice. 

This election, it seems that same frustration is running rampant. In ridings that are sure to go conservative or liberal, some people don’t feel like their vote matters. I came across this website, www.votepair.ca, and I was absolutely appalled.

Vote Pair is a website where you can register to “swap” votes with someone in a different riding that is more likely to go the way you prefer. In exchange, you make an informal agreement to vote the way your swap partner chooses. This is supposed to help elect one of the left parties, rather than favour the conservatives because the left vote in Canada is split between the Bloc Quebecois, Green Party, Liberal Party and NDP. 

There are so many horrible things wrong with this strategy, that it makes me want to move away from Canada because the reason behind it is so misinformed. I’ll try to contain my rage – bear with me.

How do you know that your “informal” agreement with a random person across the country will be stuck to? Once that person gets in the voting booth, they are there to make their own decision. They are in complete privacy, and have no obligation to vote the way you chose – and neither do you. 

The most important matter, is that this idea encourages people to think their vote doesn’t matter. I can’t stress this enough – every single vote counts in this country. 

Yes, perhaps Canada’s voting system needs to be reformed – but it seems so do the minds of those voting, or not voting. 

For each registered political party that receives at least two per cent of votes in the previous general election (so in 2008), or at least five per cent of the votes in the electoral districts in which it had a candidate, they receive a $2.04 per vote subsidy or “government allowance” as it is called, from the federal government. 

This means that in the next federal election, the party that you voted for has $2.04 to put towards more resources, including travel expenses for campaigning, election signs, rallies and so on. Your vote helps your political party that you favour, and all you have to do is tick the candidate you truly prefer. It is literally the simplest way that you can help out the party where your allegiance lies. No door knocking, no setting up signs, no ferrying around candidates, planning debates and organizing hasty campaign stops. You just vote. 

The government allowance was introduced by Jean Chrétien as an amendment to the Canada Elections Act. At that time, the changes also ensured that political parties no longer had to rely on corporations, unions and the rich to contribute to their party – making the election process much more democratic.

In 2008, the Conservative Party of Canada received $10.4 million, or 37.65 per cent of the funding; the Liberal Party came in second with $7.2 million and 26.26 per cent; the NDP earned $5 million and 18.18 per cent, the Bloc Quebecois received $2.7 million and 9.98 per cent, and the Green Party finished with $1.9 million, or 6.78 per cent. 

While researching in a blinded rage, the pie charts began to get confusing once it started talking about public subsidies of political contributions, but the point is, your vote counts, okay?

So vote, already. It takes thirty seconds. Don’t buy into any trickery, bamboozlement, flimflammery, hotfootery or tomfoolery. On May 2, when you are in that voting booth, check the name you really want to win in this riding, or any riding, and know that if the overwhelming majority does not choose who you want, at least you made your vote count and kept true to your values. 

DISCLAIMER: The Last Word is an opinion column, it is meant to provoke thought and debate. As such, any opinions written here are the writer’s own and do not reflect the viewpoint of any other Fitzhugh staff member or the directors of the Jasper Media Group Inc.