Who do you trust to decide for you?
A stranger? Or, yourself ?
Waterloo Region had a 26.1% voter turnout in 2006.
Low voter turnout means that every vote essentially has the power of 4 votes!
If I don’t vote, I let people I’ve never met decide for me. I allow people who don’t share my views to set the direction of the community where I live.
When I cast my ballot, I speak for myself, and for others who have no voice.
Does my vote even matter?
In some wards in our region, the difference between winning and losing was as few 11 individual votes in 2006!
Just a dozen people taking the time to visit the polling booth could have changed the course of decisions that have shaped our community for the past four years.
Never does your vote make as much difference as in a municipal election.
What do all those governments do, anyway, and why should I care?
The Regional Government makes decisions and delivers services that are common to the entire region. These include garbage and recycling, water supply and wastewater (but not water delivery), ambulance services, police, and public health. Regional Government also delivers services and funding in the community for subsidized housing, child care and elder care, employment services and social services. The Regional Government makes decisions about regional roads, transportation (such as Light Rail Transit and bus systems) and the Regional Airport.
Questions we might ask of our Regional Government:
How can we address waiting lists for subsidized housing?
How can we make transportation more accessible and affordable for everyone?
How are we helping people who have fallen on rough times?
How are the police partnering with the community?
What can the Region do to make childcare more accessible and affordable for everyone who needs it?
Where does our garbage go and what is done with our recycling?
The Municipal Government (City or Township) makes decisions and delivers services for a specific city or township. These include fire services, libraries, water delivery, sewage collection, roads, pipes and maintenance, parks and recreation, and planning/zoning. Municipal Governments make and enforce bylaws for property and behaviour within the city or township. Municipal governments are also responsible for industrial and commercial development, including attracting employers and new residents. The cities are Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo. The Townships are Wellesley, Woolwich, Wilmot, and North Dumfries.
Questions we might ask of our Municipal (City or Township) Government:
What are we doing to attract manufacturing jobs to our city?
How are we making sure that all children have equal access to recreation?
What are we doing about fire service partnerships near boundary lines?
What can we do to ensure clean, safe water for all residents?
Will the quality programs at my local library continue?
You decide.
Whether you are happy with the direction set by the current councils, or wishing for change, you do have the power to affect the outcome of who decides.
Encourage your friends, family and neighbours to tip the balance. Take back your vote!
* Election Night Results 2006 from the Waterloo Region Website