We’re often told that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Yet as Canadians, that’s how we vote. It’s the never-ending pendulum swing between the Liberals and Conservatives. We’re gripped by fear—fear of splitting the vote, fear that “the bad guys” might get in. “Don’t split the vote!” they say. “We’ve got to get da Libs out!” or “Keep the Cons out!” And so, we remain stuck in this cycle, expecting change while voting the same way, election after election.
Even worse, we’re no longer voting for what we believe in—we’re voting against what
we fear. The Big Two know this. It makes campaigning easy. They don’t have to earn our loyalty with vision, leadership, or solid policy. They just have to convince us the other party is going to destroy the country. That fear keeps the system stagnant, no matter which
side wins.
I would wager that the values of hundreds of thousands of Canadians better align with a party other than the one they voted for on April 28. So why do we stay trapped in this false dichotomy of Liberal versus Conservative when there are other options?
People focus only on who will win. But elections aren’t just about forming government. If a third party wins even a single seat, they can shake things up. They can introduce new ideas and influence debate. Even if their proposals don’t pass, simply having them on the table moves the conversation forward. It only takes one seat for new ideas to enter the political arena. Why not vote for that seat?
Consider the last Parliament. With just 25 seats, the NDP was able to influence government policy by partnering with the Liberal minority government. That cooperation led to the creation of a national dental care program—one of the NDP’s chief initiatives. Now imagine what the Greens or the PPC might achieve if they had the numbers to negotiate.
Much of this fear-based voting stems from Canada’s first-past-the-post electoral system, which discourages bold choices and reinforces the illusion of only two viable options. But meaningful change doesn’t happen by playing it safe. If enough people vote their values—even a few—it can open the door to something better.
The 2025 federal election is behind us. But the next Quebec provincial election is coming in October 2026. That vote is your opportunity to choose courage over cynicism. Vote for what you value—not just what you fear less.
Published in the Pontiac Journal on May 21, 2025.
