How do the local candidates differ from each other, and does this matter?
This main question is at the heart of Pontiac voters’ upcoming decision.
It is worth digging a little deeper. How do voters decide? For Pontiacers, the choice is very much a combination of local candidate, general party politics and national leadership. There are specific issues such as supply management in agriculture, access to credible news by supporting local journalism, incentives to save for a first home or how to properly care for everyone’s health.
These specific local issues, among many others, are important to question each candidate on. Not just their opinion on these matters, but specifically how the federal government departments can impact them. For the candidates, is it a dismantle the system situation
or is it a top-up the funding plan?
And then beyond the specific candidates, topics at the party level impact local voters. Again, asking the candidates to explain these is a key source of information about how
to vote. Does the response line-up with what a voter is hearing from other news sources? Do the policy directions make sense for the future of the country? What sources are voters using to get their information? These questions about the national party platforms need exploration.
At the base of this exploration of candidates, national policy, the future of Pontiac as a riding, as well as Canada as a sovereign country, are critical considerations. Locally, there are some Meet the Candidates sessions planned, one was held April 8 in Fort-Coulonge organized by CHIP FM (local radio) and the Regional Association of West Quebecers. Another opportunity to meet the candidates is an online session with the Chambre of Commerce and the Equity newspaper. Candidates are meeting with journalists across the riding, watch for their answers in the April 23 Journal. The newspaper aims to provide information to voters that helps with their decision. It’s important to consider how the candidates differ, including in their approach to national policies.
Readers: drilling down into how the news is presented, ensuring a diversity of sources – these tasks fall on you. News journalists are credible sources, be it radio, television, YouTube, or newspaper. But social media “influencers” or “content creators” are not credible news sources. They provide entertainment without the impartiality offered by
local news journalism.
So, ask questions, read and listen, push for how a general statement at a debate can translate into on-the-ground change. Write letters to the editor asking about issues,
this push from the voting public is what makes an election campaign real.
