As much as we criticize our elected leaders and representatives, they really reflect us back to ourselves. Political campaigns often go negative because campaign managers and candidates know negativity can absolutely and powerfully motivate support.
When we are our best selves, however, I would like to think most people would want to support positive visions, collaborative approaches, and a focus on policy and not personal attacks.
On a wonderful run / walk in Mac Park last week, I asked some of my fellow runclubbers what they would like to know about the local campaigns in this federal election campaign. One very beloved power walker said, “No slagging, just policies.” This is a sentiment I hear relatively often.
Twenty-five years ago, at the start of the 2000 Federal election, the late great Angelo Iacobucci, legendary Radio NL broadcaster, shared with me that if voters in Kamloops did not vote for an MP from the governing party that we would get less money and attention from Ottawa.
Angelo was sharing a reality he learned from a lifetime to covering elections. I was depressed that our federal government, once elected, wasn’t truly a government for all Canadians.
Now, in the thick of the 2025 federal election campaign, Kamloopsians are joining Canadians from coast to coast to coast in showcasing patriotism and pride in our country. The only real opinion poll is on election day but it seems now that Canadians are looking for leaders to bring us together to fight back against the tariffs and “51st state” threats from Donald Trump.
There is only one thing, however, that is truly certain in a Canadian election. That is that the election results are completely in our collective hands.
Hopefully that’s a lot of hands. And an individual vote rarely decides an election. Your vote is a contribution to the collective voice.
Politics has become way too polarized and personal and I fervently hope we can dial that back several notches. Today’s partisan politics almost never produces the collaboration our current national opportunities and challenges demand.
This brings me to a word about our local candidates. I greatly appreciate and respect people who agree to stand for public office. It hasn’t gotten any easier over the years. Huge thanks for stepping up to Frank Caputo, Iain Currie, Miguel Godau, Chris Enns, Mel Arnold, Kennnith Robertson, Phaedra Idzan, and Owen Madden!
My advice to voters: be respectful and feel free to be tough on the issues. Ask yourselves what is most important to you in this election, get your information from a variety of reputable sources (local media is a great starting point), contact the candidates with your questions and follow up if you’re not satisfied you got a good answer. And I encourage you, even if it is a tough choice, to vote if you are eligible to do so.
Election developments happen daily and I would recommend our great friends at CBC Kamloops Radio, Radio NL, CFJC-TV, Castanet Kamloops, Infotel Kamloops, and the Wren for their coverage of the election locally and regionally as well. Castanet and CFJC are partnering with local business associations for a live streamed election forum, currently scheduled for April 22nd.
The Chronicle will be publishing a special federal election issue, with lots of local coverage, on or near April 18th. Please feel free to be in touch with ideas on news and views you would like to see covered.