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If there is blame …
I was a deputy returning officer at an advance poll (Waiting, Waiting – letters, Oct. 14). If there is blame to be assigned for delays, it should go to to the electors themselves and to those who encouraged them to vote early.
At one time, the advance poll was for the elector who would be away and unable to vote on polling day, or for other good reasons.
Our list of electors had over 3,000 pages. Compare that to a regular poll, which would consist of four or five streets or a single apartment building. With 12 hours to vote, there would be little or no waiting there.
I can understand voters' frustration. Our returning officer gave us a second poll clerk. Even though this enabled us to process 70 to 75 electors an hour continuously, we never got rid of the lineups.
A. J. Gordon, Mississauga
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For the first time, there was a spirit of annoyance at the advance poll I attended. They only allowed one voter at a time at my station. Some voters pondered before marking their X. Lines grew longer and longer. This was new.
We were asked for ID, "preferably a drivers licence." It was confiscated until the ballot was returned, completed. This was new. It felt like voting in the Third World. I wanted to know why.
Surprise, surprise. My wife e-mailed me the pertinent bits of the Fair Elections Act. Changes that arguably favour the current ruling party were made last year, under the Machiavellian brow of Pierre Poilievre. Remember the fuss about expats losing the vote? Well, many at the advance poll lost theirs, too. The Fair Elections Act gives a whole new meaning to the expression, "Closing Time."
Hugh McKechnie, Newmarket, Ont.
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Canadians should give thanks they have the right to vote instead of complaining about lineups.
Perla Riesenbach, Toronto
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This election may turn out to be historic in many ways but most importantly in its energizing of the Canadian public. Long lines at advanced polling stations and on campuses bode well for our democracy. When the votes are counted, no matter the result, we may look back and feel pretty good about marking that ballot.
Bill Trudell, Toronto
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With many other Canadians, I cast a sad and angry ballot at an advance poll. Waiting for people to show their government-issue papers, have their identities checked and rechecked, have repeated warnings read out to them, sign and witness affidavits, or be sent home for more paperwork, I grew sadder and angrier.
It's no foreign government attacking democracy but my own, I fear. Shouldn't that be more of an election issue?
James Russell, Ottawa
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What one vote does
Every vote does have a very real impact. That impact lies in the changes to policy that all parties make based on voting trends. A party that finds itself down in the count will look to alter its platform; one that is up in the count assumes Canadians like what it's doing and does more of the same.
That's the critical flaw in "strategic voting": A party has no idea why you voted for it. It assumes you agree with its platform – even if you just held your nose and voted for what you considered the lesser of two evils.
If you believe in the entire platform of the NDP, Liberals or Conservatives, vote for them despite what polls say. Win or lose, it is a clear message about what secures your vote. But if you feel the most urgent issues facing us and the world are climate change and the environmental crisis, you may agree with me that the main parties' environmental platforms are sadly lacking. Choosing the "least bad" sends no message at all.
Each vote for the Green Party sends clear information to every party: To get my vote, your policies on the environment must improve dramatically.
I am not a member of any political party, just a citizen hoping to send a clear message to our leaders about what matters to me.
Tim Barss, Sooke, B.C.
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'Base' politics
It is all too convenient and perverse for the Liberals to pander to their base by promising higher taxes for the top earners. Who, except the few to be penalized by this concept, would disagree?
This is worse than simply wrong. It discriminates against those whose vote won't matter, because they are too few. Isn't this the same as the old proverb that describes two wolves and a lamb voting for their choice for dinner?
If we think that increasing tax rates on any segment of society will make us more prosperous, I suggest we are fools. What is needed is economic growth to grow the tax base, not rate increases. Period. Full stop.
When economic growth returns to normal levels, and it will in time, income tax breaks for all can become possible.
David Parkes, Ottawa
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NDP Leader Tom Mulcair's "top priority" is to "get rid of Stephen Harper." That's not a vision, or even a policy: It's his job. It tells us nothing, other than the days of a principled NDP are behind us.
According to Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, "Mister Harper" is divisive, dishonest, racist. But, then "sunny" Justin is not a negative campaigner, is he? Neither Mr. Mulcair nor Mr. Trudeau will work with a Conservative minority government. Mr. Trudeau won't work with Mr. Mulcair: Tom will work with Justin, but Justin won't return his calls. Elizabeth May says she can bring peace in the valley, but no one is listening.
It all looks like the premise for a new CBC sitcom – Up the Creek with the Governor-General. Might boost CBC's sorry ratings, and justify its subsidy. Don Cherry would be a good choice for the starring role as the G-G: He doesn't suffer fools. Neither should we.
Oh, Canada!
Paul Lowry, Delta, B.C.
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Stephen Harper has done much for which Canada is thankful. The election results will determine if the country continues to be governed in a fiscally prudent manner. Mr. Harper can improve the chances for another Conservative victory by announcing he will retire from politics before the end of 2015, regardless of the outcome of the election. His work is done.
We salute him for his accomplishments, but it is time to go, and the country knows it.
Donagh Rutgers, Victoria
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Refugee rationales
As usual, Margaret Wente gets to the core of an issue using facts and "plain-speak" (The Tide Turns In Germany – Oct. 13). Why should we be surprised that Germany only now recognizes its inability to integrate hundreds of thousands of newcomers, whose cultural and religious backgrounds are entirely foreign?
In light of Germany's experience, what ordinary Canadians saw as bigotry in Stephen Harper's decision to tread cautiously on the "refugee crisis" will now be seen for what it is – wisdom.
Susan Silverman, Toronto
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In the last stages of an interminable election campaign filled with attack ads, conflicting polls and a multitude of promises, we all need a good laugh. The camel and eye-of-the-needle cartoon by David Parkins did just that (Harper's Refugee Policy Explained – Oct. 13). A hilarious comment on a serious question.
Ann Wardrop, Picton, Ont.